Ceratodon purpureus Redshank

A very common dioicous, cushion-forming, acrocarpous moss which is found on soil or rock in lots of different habitats, including dunes, heathland and moorland, peaty banks, woodland tracks, walls, roofs, fence posts, arable fields, skeletal and ruderal habitats. It is a pioneer species which can cover large areas of bare ground, e.g. after a fire, very quickly. It is very variable in form and can be difficult to identify in the field when it doesn't have capsules, but the short, shiny-edged, narrowly triangular leaves with incurved margins are quite distinctive (see photo). Under the microscope the neat, non-papillose, rectangular cells are very striking (see photo). Colonies often produce lots of red-brown, inclined capsules on purple-red stalks which makes them easy to identify. It is common and widespread throughout West Glamorgan, particularly in the lowlands.