Frizzled Crisp-moss - Tortella tortuosa

Description

T. tortuosa grows in yellow-green tufts or turfs several centimetres in depth. When moist, the long (up to 6 or 7 mm), narrow leaves have wavy margins. When dry, the leaves shrivel into a distinctive, contorted spiral. Pulling off a few leaves reveals the abrupt V-shaped transition between the colourless basal cells and the upper cells, visible through a hand lens.

Images included on this page show specimens that have not been identified to species level and are intended for illustrative purposes only

Identification difficulty
Recording advice

This species has a red ID rating and unless identified by a known expert you must provide a satisfactory explanation of how it was identified for the record to be accepted.

Habitat

Favouring chalk and limestone districts, but also growing on base rich sandstone and calcareous dune sand. T. tortuosa may be found as tufts on boulders, limestone walls, scree or limestone pavement, as larger patches on cliffs or in gorges, or forming turfs in calcareous or dune grassland.

When to see it

All year round.

UK Status

Widespread in Britain, but more common in the north and west.

VC55 Status

Status in Leicestershire and Rutland not known.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Frizzled Crisp-moss
Species group:
Mosses & Liverworts
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Pottiales
Family:
Pottiaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
2
First record:
07/02/2016 (Hamzaoui, Uta)
Last record:
07/02/2016 (Hamzaoui, Uta)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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