Cape Thread-moss - Orthodontium lineare

Description

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.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

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.

When to see it

All year round.

UK Status

Widespread and fairly frequent in all but the most northerly parts of Britain.

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
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)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

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