Identification notes
This is a low-growing species of dry, acid ground that, when characteristically glaucous, is easy to identify. None of our other Pogonatum/Polytrichum/Polytrichastrum species is conspicuously grey-green.
Occasionally, plants are taller and less glaucous and then it may be necessary to check them microscopically.Section the leaves transversely with a sharp razorblade and examine the sections under a high power microscope. If you have P. urnigerum its apical lamellar cells are very distinctive – they are thick-walled, rounded or elliptical and often larger than the cells below and topped by a fuzz of small papillae.
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