Trichostomum brachydontium Variable Crisp-moss

A yellow-green or dark-green, dioicous, acrocarpous moss which forms cushions on the base-rich soils of coastal slopes, rock crevices, walls and fixed dunes. The leaves have a blunt tip with an excurrent nerve and become crispy and curled when dry. It is easily confused with Barbula unguiculata, which has a similar leaf morphology but it has bigger leves (2-4mm long) and its they are not recurved. It is a Submediterranean-Suatlantic species which is found mostly in the west and north of Britain. It is widespread in Wales but rather local in West Glamorgan where it is most common along the south Gower coast. It is very scarce in the South Wales Coalfield but there are scattered populations in the valley lowlands of Neath Port Talbot. Sporophyte capsules are rare.