Weissia rutilans Pointed-leaved Stubble-moss

An autoicous acrcarpous moss which grows on bare soil in open habitats such as arable fields, coastal slopes, quarries, banks and woodland tracks. It is similar to the much more common Weissia controversa but its leaves are only narrowly incurved. It can only be identidied with certaintly when sporophytes are present and spores (which are 22-28 microns in diameter) can be examined. It has a scattered western distribution in Britain and it is undoubtedly under recorded. Recorded once in West Glamorgan by BS in 2014 from a track in Scurlage, Gower. Sporophyte capsules are common in spring.