English name: Broom fork-moss
An acrocarpous moss that is that forms large, yellow-green to dark green cushions. The leaves are long, narrowly spearhead-shaped and often curved. They taper to a long fine tip that is often visibly toothed. The capsule is curved and cylindrical and held on a long seta that is yellow above and reddish below.
Capsules mature from winter to summer.
In Scotland, Dicranum scoparium is widespread in woodland, moorland and heathland, sand dunes and in the mountains. BBS distribution map
Look out for Mnium hornum, Polytrichastrum formosum and Rhytidiadelphus loreus nearby.
Confusion species: Dicranum fuscescens and Dicranum majus
scottishlichens.co.uk 