English name: Western earwort
A leafy liverwort that forms large, pale, brownish green cushions. The leaf lobes are non-appressed, giving the species an untidy appearance, and none of them extend down onto the stem. The front lobe has small teeth near the base.
In Scotland, Scapania gracilis is widespread in central and western upland areas where it is found in dry but humid, acidic to mildly basic sites such as coastal rocky banks and gullies, woods, exposed rocky hillsides, block scree and rocky lake margins. BBS distribution map
Look out for Frullania tamarisci, Plagiochila punctata and Plagiochila spinulosa nearby.
Confusion species: Scapania irrigua and Scapania nemorea
scottishlichens.co.uk 