Cylindric Beard-moss - Didymodon insulanus

Description

Typical shoots are 0.5 to 3 cm tall, olive-green, and often brownish on the lower part. The narrow upper leaves average 3 to 4 mm in length (longer than the lower leaves), with a long, tapering tip. Each one curves to the side, giving shoots a spiralled appearance when viewed from above and they curl and twist into a characteristic shape when dry. Erect, cylindrical capsules are very rare in spring, and are borne on a wavy seta.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

D. insulanus is a lowland moss, usually growing on soil, but may also occur on stone or brick walls, concrete, tarmac, pavements, damp rocks and wood. It also grows on silty soil, tree bases and wooden posts in the flood zone of rivers and streams.

When to see it

All year round

UK Status

Common and widespread in Britain. It is less common than D. vinealis in the south and east, but frequent in the north and west.

VC55 Status

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Cylindric Beard-moss
Species group:
Mosses & Liverworts
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Pottiales
Family:
Pottiaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
14
First record:
12/12/1993 (Dennis Ballard)
Last record:
31/01/2021 (Nicholls, David)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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