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Cape Thread-moss - Orthodontium lineare
This species forms fine, sometimes extensive tufts or patches up to 1 cm tall. The leaves, up to 3 mm long, are very fine with plane margins, wavy and with a slight sheen when dry, often weakly curved in one direction when moist. Capsules, which gradually taper into a seta about 5 mm long, are freely and often abundantly produced in late spring. When green and young, they are held at an oblique angle with a characteristically upturned beak. The mature and empty capsules turn reddishbrown, are erect and become distinctly furrowed. Both leaves and setae point down below the horizontal in a characteristic manner.
Grows in a wide range of base-poor habitats in both shaded and sunny places. It occurs on sandy and peaty banks, logs, stumps, on siliceous cliffs and crags, particularly sandstone where it can form extensive patches.
All year round.
Widespread and fairly frequent in all but the most northerly parts of Britain.
Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.
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Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
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Species profile
- Common names
- Cape Thread-moss
- Species group:
- Mosses & Liverworts
- Kingdom:
- Plantae
- Order:
- Bryales
- Family:
- Orthodontiaceae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 12
- First record:
- 12/12/1993 (Dennis Ballard)
- Last record:
- 04/03/2024 (Bell, Melinda)
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