(Tortula ruraliformis)

Sand-hill Screw-moss

This moss has been familiar for a long time, from my walks through the dunes at Tentsmuir.  Little orangey-green stars, covering the sand.

The leaves have a long silvery hair point.  The book says these are toothed – when I looked closely, it seemed more like little scales sticking out than teeth.  But I’m not going to argue…

Before the silvery hair tip, the leaves themselves taper to a point.

The tapering leaf tip distinguishes this moss from its relative, Syntrichia ruralis subsp. ruralis, which has a rounded, blunt leaf tip with the same silvery hair point.

The leaves twist together when dry.  The stars disappear.

Growing with the orangey-green moss was a closely-packed, bright green version.  I wondered if this was its cousin, but the leaves taper to a tip so I think it’s probably still ruraliformis.

It was good to finally put a name to this starry moss.

PS Found what I think is the same moss on the cliffs at Arbroath.

PPS – Found it with these long-beaked capsules, 31 Jan, Tentsmuir