English name: Rough-stalked feather-moss
A pleurocarpous moss that forms loose patches of irregular, ascending or upright branches with distinctive pale, but glossy, shoot tips. The spreading leaves are egg-shaped and may narrow to an acute tip or may taper finely. The capsules are curved and egg-shaped and held on a roughened seta.
Capsules mature from late autumn to spring.
In Scotland, Brachythecium rutabulum is widespread in habitats such as woods and hedgerows, parks and gardens where it is found on both bark, wood stone and disturbed ground. BBS distribution map
Confusion species: Brachythecium rivulare
scottishlichens.co.uk 