Weissia angustifolia

An autoicous, acrocarpous moss which grows in calcareous habitats such as the thin soils that form over limestone rock. It is often regarded as a variety of Weissia longifolia (see descripion of that species) but it is ecologically distinct from it. In habit it is similar to Weissia controversa but the capsules are held on very short stalks and are hidden among the leaves. It is not easily separated from Weissia longifolia (var. longifolia) but the leaves increase in size up the stem so that the perichaetial leaves (i.e. the leaves that sheath the base of the sporophyte) are not noticeably longer than the upper stem leaves. Also, the upper margins of the perichaetial leaves are strongly incurved. It has a southern distribution in Britain where it is confined to soils on chalk and limestone. It is rare in Wales and in West Glamorgan it is largely confined to the limestone cliffs of the south Gower coast. Sporophyte capsules are common in spring. Like Weissia longifolia, the distinctive spores are coarsly papillose which is a good identification feature that separates both species from Weissia levieri.