Pointed Spear-moss

Calliergonella cuspidata

This is a medium-sized moss which may grow with other bryophytes, or may form patches of green, yellow-green, and occasionally orange-brown. The shoots are up to 3-8cm long or more. The main stem is usually erect with pinnately arranged branches. The leaves are closely rolled-up to form a smooth needle-like point. The stem leaves are 2-2.5mm long, bluntly rounded at the tip with a short double nerve.

Common in base-rich habitats like marshes, grasslands and amongst rocks. It also frequently occurs in lawns and relatively dry habitats such as chalk and limestone grassland. One of our commonest mosses and widespread throughout.

Photographs of Pointed Spear-moss (Calliergonella cuspidata) taken February 2014, nature reserve, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2014. Camera used Nikon Coolpix P500.