WildBristol.uk - Discovering Wildlife in Bristol

Widespread and fairly frequent throughout the UK. Habitat includes: Sheltered, shady places with Alkaline soil e.g. woodland, stream banks, lower tree trunks and visible roots, rocks ans stones. shoots commonly 2 to 6 cm long. The plants are bushy, with the branches curving downwards. The branch leaves are typically 2 mm long, egg-shaped to elliptical, concave, appressed and overlapping, giving the branches a neatly cylindrical appearance. They do not alter much when dry. The leaf tip is broadly pointed to acute, not drawn out to a fine point, and only finely toothed. The single nerve extends above mid-leaf. Stem leaves are similar to the branch leaves, but a little larger, with a slightly longer tip. Capsules appear occasionally, and are elliptical to cylindrical, and erect. The lid is beaked.