English name: Hair-pointed feather-moss
A distinctive pleurocarpous moss with pale, sometimes whitish green, robust shoots that are more or less pinnately branched. The short side shoots stand at right angles to the main stem and are attenuated at the tip. The leaves are egg-shaped to oblong, strongly concave and contract abruptly at the tip to a long, hair-like point.
In Scotland, Cirripyllum piliferum is widespread in many lowland and coastal areas where it is found in base-rich, sheltered and shaded habitats such as woodland, on banks, at the base of old walls, and among rocks and stones. BBS distribution map
Look out for Eurhynchium striatum, Plagiomnium undulatum, Thamnobryum alopecurum and Thuidium tamariscinum nearby.
Confusion species: Brachythecium albicans, Brachythecium rutabulum
scottishlichens.co.uk 