English name: Common haircap
A distinctive acrocarpous moss that forms large hummocks that consist of wiry shoots with narrowly spearhead shaped leaves that strongly curve away from the stem and have a glossy, sheathing base. The leaves are narrow and the margins are sharply toothed. The capsules are angular and shortly beaked and held on a long, reddish seta.
Capsules mature in summer.
In Scotland, Polytrichum commune var. commune is widespread in acid, wet and waterlogged places such as damp woodland, heaths, blanket bog and acid flushes. BBS distribution map
Look out for Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum fimbriatum and Sphagnum palustre nearby.
Confusion species: Polytrichastrum formosum
scottishlichens.co.uk 