BRISTLY HAIRCAP
Polytrichum piliferum
Mosses [Polytrichaceae] 
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Mosses [Polytrichaceae]
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| Capsules: |
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| 10th march 2009, nr. Porter Brook, Derbys. | Photo: © RWD |
| Grows in drier open acidic places such as rocks, heaths, gravels or sand. |
| 2nd June 2008, nr. Greenfield, Gtr M/cr. | Photo: © RWD |
| Short tufts of curved leaves, with striking orange and red sporophytes in summer. |
| 10th march 2009, nr. Porter Brook, Derbys. | Photo: © RWD |
| Leaves are curved and rather stubby, with whitish tissue on insides. |
| 2nd June 2008, nr. Greenfield, Gtr M/cr. | Photo: © RWD |
| Leaves have the conspicuous long white hair at the top, which is indicative of members of the Polytrichum Genus. |
| 2nd June 2008, nr. Greenfield, Gtr M/cr. | Photo: © RWD |
| In summer orange/red capsules (sporophytes) stand up well above the leaves. |
| 10th march 2009, nr. Porter Brook, Derbys. | Photo: © RWD |
| The young spore-containing sporophytes have thin red stems and a slowly tapering yellow/orange/red capsule atop. |
| 10th march 2009, nr. Porter Brook, Derbys. | Photo: © RWD |
| The male plants in spring are conspicuously purle/red/orange. They are modified leaves and form a cup at the top with pentagonal symmetry. |
| 10th march 2009, nr. Porter Brook, Derbys. | Photo: © RWD |
| A moist day in the fells. |
| 10th march 2009, nr. Porter Brook, Derbys. | Photo: © RWD |
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Some similarities to : Common Haircap Moss aks Marsh Hair Moss, but that doesn't have orange/red capsules, amongst other differences. Bristly Haircap Moss prefers a drier acidic environment than Common Haircap Moss, and grows on boulders, disturbed acidic sands and gravels and on heaths in lowlands. It is common in upland areas with stony substrates such as the edges of paths, scree slopes, mountain ridge tops, singly river borders and lake or tarn margins. The ripe capsules (not shown) are produced in summer and are 4/5-angled born on reddish sets 1 to 3cm long. ANY TEXT GOES HERE |
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Mosses [Polytrichaceae]
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