English name: Bruch’s pincushion
An acrocarpous moss that forms yellow-green cushions with a blackish-brown lower part to each shoot. The leaves are spearhead-shaped and become moderately crisped when dry. Capsules have a neck that tapers more longly into the seta and tapers into a narrow mouth as well.
Capsules mature from autumn to spring in particular.
In Scotland, Ulota bruchii is widespread on twigs and branches of many species of tree and shrub, including willow, elder and hazel, and on rocks beneath trees. BBS distribution map
Look out for Frullania dilitata, Metzgeria fruticulosa, Metzgeria furcata, and Orthotrichum affine nearby.
Confusion species: any other epiphytic Orthotrichum and Ulota species, including Orthotrichum affine, Ulota crispa and Ulota drummondii
scottishlichens.co.uk 