*1: Trefusis Grove,
Falmouth, 1839, EAW
(TRU) (Paton 1969a: 745). There is an earlier
record from 'near Mousehole, Cornwall, December 1837'
collector unknown, conf. DTH 1998, in 19th Century collection
(now in DTH).
*2: East Wood, Bodmin,
1889, RVT (B) (Paton 1969a:
745).
Often forms substantial patches. Habitat notes from
Cornwall are as follows. Usually on soil in moist or wet,
sheltered places such as in flushes or on stream banks under
trees (often in woodland, Grey Willow-carrs, or other scrub
with Grey Willows on wet ground including that on heaths and
in old quarries); extends into flood-zone in woods beside R.
Tamar. Also, mainly in small quantities, on soil on woodland
banks, under hedgerows, or on laneside banks. Commonly on wet,
humic soils and recorded e.g. on bases of tussocks formed by
Osmunda regalis or
Dryopteris spp. and
litter under Carex
paniculata, but also on loamy and mineral soils in wet
sites. Also in small amounts on thin soil over flushed rocks
or on edges of rocks in damp places, including a flush above
sea-cliffs, once on wet shaded wall in small quantity.
Commonly in light to heavy shade, but also in some fully
insolated sites. Frequent associates include Brachythecium
rivulare, Chrysosplenium
oppositifolium, Dryopteris, Kindbergia
praelonga,
Oxyrrhynchium pumilum, Pellia epiphylla, Plagiomnium undulatum,
Plagiothecium
nemorale, Rhizomnium punctatum,
Thamnobryum
alopecurum; less common associates include Plagiothecium denticulatum
var.
denticulatum, Trichocolea
tomentella.
Single records of it extending onto bases of tree
trunks (reaching 0.5 m above ground), on rotting log on ground
in woodland and growing on bark of old tree fallen across
stream, all in well shaded, humid sites. Once in flush on
unshaded slopes high above N.-facing sea-cliff (NW. of
Morvah). Unusual record ca 2 m above head of
shingle beach inside small sea-cave near Porthkerris Point, on
overhanging, moist, slaty rock in heavy shade, close to Asplenium marinum (H. lucens was in some
quantity here, but small and sterile).
Plants with many gemmae on tips of leaves
frequently seen (perhaps commonest on small plants in heavily
shaded or rather dry places; recorded 7, 10-12).
Frequently/commonly c.fr.: capsules immature 1-3, 7-12;
dehiscing 1, 2; dehisced 2-5. Capsules are often eaten off
before they mature.