Common Candle Snuffer Moss

Description

Shoots form loose tufts or cushions less than 1.5 cm tall. Leaves are about 3 mm long. Identifying this frequent, lowland calcicole without capsules is very unsafe; fortunately, they are usually present. Young capsules persist for a considerable time, so are often found. Ripe capsules are smooth, have a rudimentary or absent peristome, and until maturity are entirely covered by a very large, unfringed calyptra. Capsules arise from between rosettes of broad, more or less parallel-sided, opaque, very matt leaves, abruptly narrowed to the tip. The nerve ends below the tip or is shortly excurrent.