English name: Frizzled crisp-moss
An acrocarpous moss that forms yellow-green tufts or turfs. When moist, the long, narrow leaves have wavy margins. When dry, the leaves shrivel into a distinctive, contorted spiral.
In Scotland, Tortella tortuosa is widespread in upland areas where it prefers base-enriched rocks, including limestone pavement, wooded cliffs and boulders, scree and old sheltered drystone walls. BBS distribution map
Look out for Ctenidium molluscum, Fissidens dubius, Homalothecium sericeum and Neckera complanata nearby.
Confusion species: Didymodon insulans and Tortella flavovirens
scottishlichens.co.uk 