English name: Dusky fork-moss
An acrocarpous moss that forms medium-sized to large cushions or patches. The leaves are narrowly spearhead-shaped, often curved, and taper to a long, very fine channelled tip which tends to be very finely toothed. The nerve may be excurrent at the tip. Leaves are crisped when dry. The capsules are inclined, curved and cylindrical.
Capsules mature in summer.
In Scotland, Dicranum fuscescens is widespread in upland regions, especially The Highlands, where it is found on a variety of hard substrates, including tree boles and bases, conifer stumps, and on boulders, in open ravines and in areas of late snow-lie. BBS distribution map
Look out for Campylopus flexuosus, Isothecium myosuroides, Pohlia nutans and Scapania gracilis nearby.
Confusion species: Dicranum scoparium and Dicranum majus
scottishlichens.co.uk 