*1: Newlyn Cliffs,
1866, WC (PNZ) (Paton 1969a:
741).
*2: Near Penvose, St
Tudy, 1891, RVT (B) (Paton 1969a:
741).
Often distinguishable in the field from Z. viridissimus by the
wider, more shortly acuminate leaf apices, but virtually all
my records of non-fertile plants have been confirmed
microscopically by examination of the distinctive foliar
gemmae. Identifications in the field relying on leaf stance
risk errors, as do microscopic determinations based on cell
size of the leaf lamina (although plants with most cells 12 µm or more wide are Z. conoideus). Var. lingulatus S.R.Edwards
has distinctive rounded leaf apices and is known only from a
single locality in Surrey. Although it was named as recently
as 2000, all records from C&S seem safely referable to
var.
conoideus.
Habitat notes from C&S are as follows. It grows
as low tufts or cushions, often among other mosses, mainly as
an epiphyte but rarely also on rocks or masonry. Grows
epiphytically mainly on base- or nutrient-rich bark of trunks
and branches, preferring surfaces that are horizontal or
inclined to those that are vertical, in unshaded to moderately
shaded sites. Common on Elder, frequent on Ash, elm, Grey
Willow, Hazel, Sycamore; seen once each on Blackthorn,
Traveller's Joy (old stem in shade), young hybrid poplar, Wild
Privet, willow (tree). Recorded in scrub and open woodland,
Grey Willow carrs, and on isolated
trees or saplings in sheltered places. Also found within
flood-zone beside R. Tamar. Associates include Cololejeunea
minutissima, Cryphaea heteromalla,
Frullania dilatata,
Hypnum andoi, Leskea polycarpa, Metzgeria violacea, Metzgeria
consanguinea,
Microlejeunea ulicina, Orthotrichum affine,
Orthotrichum
diaphanum, Radula
complanata, Ulota
bruchii, Ulota
crispa, Ulota
phyllantha, Zygodon
viridissimus var.
viridissimus.
Unlike Z. viridissimus, this
species mainly seems to avoid exposed coasts, occurring up to
ca 500 m from
coasts mainly in sheltered locations. However, several
exceptions to this have been recorded from fairly sheltered
locations, e.g. plentiful on old Elder at clifftop of east
Lizard near Nare Point, on elms above cliffs S. of Coverack,
on Sycamore on cliff above Maenporth, and on wall in elm scrub
within 100 m of coast at Tregiffian Cliff.
Although the literature suggests Z. conoideus is
exclusively an epiphyte in Britain (M.C.F. Proctor in Hill et al. 1994: 181), it
has also been found rarely on masonry or rock in Cornwall,
although only in small amounts: (1) among other mosses on
vertical surface of a sheltered gravestone, (2) on side of
granitic boulder at edge of pasture, (3) in patch of Conocephalum conicum
on thin soil over unshaded gabbro on boulder near coast,
(4) among other mosses (Hypnum cupressiforme
var. resupinatum,
Rhynchostegium
confertum) on granitic boulder at base of 'hedge' bounding
open patch of elm saplings on slope just above an exposed
cliff, (5) on wall in coastal elm scrub, (6) with Tortula muralis on
rock of low unshaded wall ca 150 m inland of
exposed cliff-top (S. of Lizard town), (7) patch on low damp
concrete of wall below reservoir dam. Unusual record also of a
strong patch c.fr. on vertical upholstery of an old car-seat
dumped at edge of scrub.
As noted above, mainly recorded when
axillary/foliar gemmae seen, but these appear to be invariably
present and often abundant. Frequently c.fr.: capsules
immature 1-4, 10-12; dehiscing 4, 5; dehisced [1-3 old], 4-6,
8 [10-12 old]. Male plants with mature antheridia: 3, 10,
11.