Cinclidotus riparius re-instated as a British and Irish moss

Abstract The occurrence of Cinclidotus riparius (Brid.) Arnott in the British Isles has been re-investigated. Vegetative material of this species can be separated from C. fontinaloides (Hedw.) P. Beauv. by the anatomy of the leaf border. It is shown that the early reports of C. riparius in the R. Teme in England and the R. Fergus in Ireland were correct, and that the species is still present in the R. Teme. The morphology, distribution and ecology of the species are discussed.