Identification notes
Note that this is the species formerly referred to as E. minutissimum. The species formerly referred to as E. serratum is now called E. stoloniferum!
In 2010 Dr David Holyoak reviewed the taxonomy of some European species of Ephemerum and his nomenclature has been adopted in the current BBS checklist of bryophytes. It is recommended that his paper (downloadable below) is consulted when attempting to identify any British or Irish Ephemerum collection.
E. serratum is the most common earthmoss that will be encountered in lowland habitats. It is especially characteristic of arable fields and ant-hills where soils are at least slightly acidic and clayey. In such places it often grows with other small mosses, including Weissia longifolia, Dicranella staphylina, Trichodon cylindricus and tuberous Bryum species. Its equivalent on calcareous clays is E. recurvifolium. In silty habitats exposed by falling water levels, for example at the edges of lakes, reservoirs and ponds, other earthmosses are likely.
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