Tortella inclinata Bent Crisp-moss

A dioicous, acrocarpous moss which grows on base-rich substrates such as in calcareous sand dunes, dune grassland and open mosaic habitats and occasionally inland on calcareous rock. Unlike Tortella flavovirens which is similar and sometimes grows with it, the leaves are densely packed and tend to be held erect. Under the microscope the upper surface of the nerve can be seen to lack quadrate cells, which are present in Tortella flavovirens. It is a rather scarce species overall in Britain with a mostly coastal distribution and it is uncommon in Wales with a local distribution in West Glamorgan where there are coastal populations in south Gower and Neath Port Talbot. There are some remarkably large populations of this species in the open mosiac habitats of Baglan Energy Park. Sporophyte capsules are very rare.