Revised name: Lewinskya rupestris
English name: Rock bristle-moss
An acrocarpous moss that forms reddish-brown or dull dark green, loosely branched tufts with abundant capsules that have a diagnostic strongly hairy, reddish calyptra. When dry, the capsules are only slightly furrowed while the eight pairs of peristome teeth are held upright.
Capsules mature in spring and summer.
In Scotland, Orthotrichum rupestre has a scattered distribution in upland areas where it is found on well-illuminated rocks and boulders by lakes and rivers, on coastal outcrops and in scree. BBS distribution map
Look out for Grimmia trichophylla and Schistidium species nearby.
Confusion species: Orthotrichum anomalum and Orthotrichum diaphanum
scottishlichens.co.uk 