Ulota crispa Crisped Pincushion

An autoicous, acrocarpous, epiphytic moss which forms small yellow-green tufts or cushions on trees such as willows, hazel and elder in damp woodlands. It is very similar to Ulota bruchii and other less common Ulota species and impossible to differentiate from them without sporophyte capsules, which are common in summer and autumn. Like Ulota bruchii, the young sporophytes have a very hairy calyptra but when this is shed, the mature capsules become narrowed just below the wider mouth whereas those of Ulota bruchii taper to the mouth. It is widespread in much of south and west Britain but because of the confusion with Ulota bruchii  there are some uncertainties in its distribution. However it appears to be frequent in most of Wales and it is found throughout West Glamorgan, albeit less commonly than Ulota bruchii. Sometimes both species occur together.