*1: Penzance, 1844, AG
(PNZ) (Paton 1969a:
744).
*2: Withiel, 1889, RVT
(B) (Paton 1969a: 744).
Often forms substantial patches. Habitat notes from
C&S are as follows. Frequently occurs both as an epiphyte
and on masonry or rocks, sometimes extending onto firm soil
e.g. of steep banks. As epiphyte on wide range of trees and
shrubs, including Ash, Beech, Grey Willow, elm, Hazel, oak,
Sycamore; single records from Cotoneaster
integrifolius bush, Ginkgo biloba
(Heligan Gardens) and London
Plane. As epiphyte mainly on bases of trunks and larger
branches, in light to moderate or rather heavy shade. In
variety of groves of trees and woodland types, but principally
on better soils. Once on elder in scrub on slope above
sea-cliff; once on base of Grey Willow in scrub at edge of
sand-dunes.
Frequently on tops and sides of mortared-stone and
concrete walls, also church and bridge walls, building ruins,
serpentinite crags, boulders, walls and sea-cliffs; also on
gabbro rocks; single records on slaty and granitic
gravestones, concrete fence-post, granitic boulders, slaty
rocks in 'hedges' and a laneside bank. Often in considerable
shade on rock or masonry substrates in woodland, but also
recorded on unshaded masonry and unshaded or scarcely shaded
serpentinite boulders or outcrops.
Common associates include Brachythecium
rutabulum, Homalothecium
sericeum, Hypnum
andoi, Isothecium
myosuroides var. myosuroides, Kindbergia
praelonga,
Metzgeria furcata, Neckera pumila, Rhynchostegiella
tenella (on walls), Rhynchostegium
confertum, Sciuro-hypnum
populeum,
Thamnobryum alopecurum and various lichens. Scarcer
associates include Isothecium
alopecuroides,
Plagiochila asplenioides, Pterogonium
gracile.
Vegetative reproduction evidently occurs from
filiform branches, that are commonly produced in abundance.
Recorded c.fr. 14 times, usually with few capsules but
occasionally they are plentiful: capsules immature 1, 3, [4],
10, 12; dehiscing 3; dehisced 2-6, 10.