Wall Screw-moss.
It’s the capsules which catch your attention, standing high above the green cushion of the moss. (Pictures taken Nov/Dec.)
The capsules are slim, on long setae. (The book says purple – I think this colour develops with age, but young capsules seem to have green setae.) When the calyptra falls off, there are twisted white hairs (peristome).
The moss seems to like growing on the top of walls, no need to scrabble about on the ground for this one.
The leaves are quite straight sided, rounded at the tips, with a white hair point. They are slightly concave. When dry, the leaves close up into a twisted spiral.
Twisted hairs on mature capsules, on a low bridge.
Pictures taken in Cupar and Kilmany.
March 2020. Thought I’d add this picture of Tortula muralis just getting started on a newly mortared wall in Cupar.
Learning about Mosses 