Common Striated Feather-moss - Eurhynchium striatum

Common Striated Feather-moss forms cushions or mats that may extend over large areas. Shoots are generally pale or yellow-green, and more or less pinnately branched with branches spreading almost at right angles. The stems and branches are straight, making shoots look rigid. The leaves spread widely and hardly alter on drying, reaching 1.5 to 2 mm long. They are triangular (almost perfectly so above the base, with straight sides), but narrowed and heart-shaped at the point of attachment, and acute, but not attenuated at the tip. The margins are very finely toothed. A very important character, easily observed with a hand lens, is the wrinkled leaves, caused by shallow folds along their length. Capsules (2 to 3 mm long) are occasionally present, and have a beaked lid. There are similar species and detailed examination is needed.

Common Striated Feather-moss grows on the ground and around stones in woodland, especially on base-rich soils, but also on neutral to slightly acidic substrates. It is characteristic of long-established woodland. However, it also occurs in other places that are not exposed to full sun, such as hedge banks, rocky ground and rock ledges.

All year round.

Fairly frequent and widely distributed in Britain.

Fairly common in Leicestershire and Rutland.