English name: Cape thread-moss
An acrocarpous moss that forms tufts or patches. The very fine leaves are weakly curved in one direction when moist and wavy with a slight sheen when dry. Both leaves and setae point down in a characteristic manner. Capsules gradually taper into a seta. When young, they are held at an oblique angle, when mature, they turn reddish brown and are held upright.
Capsules mature in spring and early summer.
In Scotland, Orthodontium lineare is mainly restricted to eastern and lowland areas where it grows in a wide range of base-poor habitats in both shaded and sunny places. BBS distribution map
Look out for Lepidozia reptans, Lophocolea heterophylla, Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans and Tetraphis pellucida nearby.
Confusion species: Dicranella heteromalla and Campylopus flexuosus
scottishlichens.co.uk 