English name: Aloe haircap
An acrocarpous moss with dark green, short, stiff and rather rectangular leaves that are arranged in a rosette-like manner on stout, reddish stems. The shortly cylindrical capsules are held on a reddish seta.
Capsules mature in winter and spring.
In Scotland, Pogonatum aloides is a widespread colonist of bare, acidic soils in sheltered and heavily shaded habitats such as vertical soil banks and the rootplates of fallen trees in woodland, and eroding banks by streams. BBS distribution map
Look out for Diplophyllum albicans, Nardia scalaris, Pellia epiphylla and Solenostoma gracillumum nearby.
Confusion species: Oligotrichum hercynicum, Pogonatum nanum, Pogonatum urnigerum and Polytrichum piliferum
scottishlichens.co.uk 