Ulota calvescens Balding Pincushion

An autoicous, acrocarpous, epiphytic moss which forms small, neat, compact cushions on trees, particularly willows. It is similar to other more common Ulota species but the sporophyte capsules are born on short stalks and the calyptra has sparse hairs, giving it a characteristic bald look and making the dark tip stand out. Under the microscope, a band of narrow, rectangular cells at the base of the leaf can be seen to ascend for some distance along the margin, much more than seen with other Ulota species, which is a useful confirmatory character (see photo). It is an Oceanic species with a western distribution concentrated mostly in the northwest of Scotland. It is less common in Wales but it has probably been under recorded. As people have become more familiar with its chacateristic features, more records of it have been made in recent years. Although it is relatively uncommon in West Glamorgan there are several scattered records outside Gower and it is likely to be recorded more frequently in future as increasingly oceanic conditions prevail. Sporophyte capsules are common in late spring and early summer (earlier than other Ulota species).