Identification notes
This is another species that in Europe is classified as a Fuscocephaloziopsis, so named because of the brownish pigmentation. It is typically a plant of rotting wood in humid lowland woodlands in the west, but can be found on moist peaty substrates and thin humus over sheltered acid rocks. The shoots are quite narrow for a Cephalozia, being about 0.5mm across, with obliquely inserted concave leaves on stems rendered opaque by the incrassate cells with yellow-brown walls, especially on older stems. It tends to form patches or thin turfs. The leaves are small, about 0.25mm across, with the lobes being about half the width of the leaf and often parallel sided. The cells are small too, (usually less than 20μm) with incrassate and pigmented cell walls.
Perianths are sometimes found, which have a ciliate mouth and toothed bracts. Gemmae are often present.
Cephalozia lunulifolia is a more common plant which grows in similar habitats. It has larger cells with less incrassate and hyaline cell walls so does not appear pigmented. Cephalozia macrostachya is a plant of more saturated habitats and is also pigmented but has larger leaves and cells.
