Photo
by Dr M Lueth ©.
*1: The Lizard, 1916, WEN (CGE) (Paton 1969a:
727). [Later record was listed as first vc1 record by BBS
Recorder: Wall at cliff top, Carn Barrow, The Lizard, 1946,
EFW (OXF) (Crundwell 1971a, 1972b:
139)].
*2: Soil on rocky cliffs, Nare Head, Veryan, 1962,
JAP (OXF) (Paton
1969a: 727, Crundwell 1971a, 1972b:
139).
Although first named as a British species by
Crundwell (1971a), it was known to be a distinct taxon for
many years before this while being studied by the late E.F.
Warburg.
Doubtless under-recorded because mature capsules
are needed for reliable identification. Some literature states
that W. perssonii differs
from all congeners in lacking the short papillose lamina cells
covering the costa on the ventral surface of the leaf, but at
least some W. brachycarpa are
similar in this character.
Grows as low lawns or in loose tufts.
Restricted to substrates of free-draining mineral soil
(neutral to mildly acidic?), mainly in fully insolated to
partly shaded sites (once c.fr. well shaded in hollow among
rocks). Occurs only on sea-cliffs and slopes above sea-cliffs
(of granite, slates, serpentinite), on patches of soil exposed
among turf and on other partly bare areas such as banks. Never
recorded inland inCornwall,
despite being searched for. Associates include Tortella flavovirens,
Trichostomum
brachydontium. Often close to Conocephalum conicum,
sometimes close to Weissia brachycarpa
var.
obliqua.
Commonly c.fr. (recorded only when mature capsules
or mature spores examined, because not safely recognisable
from leaf characters alone): capsules immature 1, 3, (4, 5),
11, 12; dehiscing 3-5, [8]; dehisced 5, 8.
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