Zygodon rupestris Park Yoke-moss

A yellow-green, dioicous, acrocapous moss which usually grows epiphytically on the trunks of mature ash trees, but also on oak, beech and sycamore. Microscopic examination of the gemmae which occur among the leaves will reveal that they have 3 or 4 transverse septa and no longtitudinal septa (see photo), a feature that will separate it from Zygodon viridissimus. It has a western distribution in Britain and is scattered and rather local in Wales. It is relaitively uncommon in south Wales and scarce in West Glamorgan with just a handful of confirmed records. However, it may be misidentified as Zygodon viridissimus and under recorded. Sporophyte capsules are uncommon.