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Friday 27 November 2015

Greater Pincushion

Widespread in upland areas of NPT where it occurs on exposed siliceous rock often with Racomitrium spp., e.g. R. fasciculare. My photos are also a bit ancient, but for what they're worth........
Ptychomitrium polyphyllum Glyncorrwg

Ptychomitrium polyphyllum, Abergwynfi

The short, pleated calyptras are a really neat feature. It is probably widespread above the enclosure line throughout the South Wales Coalfield, i.e. it should be as frequent in RCT as it is in NPT, but it may be absent or rare outside the Coalfield.  
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2 comments:

  1. GMT27 November 2015 at 18:59

    Thanks Charles. The lower photo looks just like mine from yesterday - as you say, the pleated calyptra is very neat.

    It was growing on a rock at only 150m asl, in a semi-shaded position, and sharing the rock with Grimma pulvinata - so probably not a typical location. The rock might have been moved from higher altitude though (it was being used to block vehicles from bypassing the forest gate).

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  2. Charles Hipkin27 November 2015 at 19:34

    It does occur occasionally at lower elevations in suitable places George and I'm sure you'll see more of it.

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