Sausage beard-moss  (Didymodon tomaculosus)

With so little known about the ecology of the sausage beard-moss, it is difficult to assess why it seems so rare and what factors may be responsible for contributing to its rarity. It has probably been widely overlooked as a species, although a decline in the practice of leaving winter stubbles may be an important factor.

Sausage beard-moss is listed in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, and included in English Nature's Species Recovery Programme. As so little is known about this moss, the plant conservation charity Plantlife are co-ordinating a systematic search for this species to gain a full understanding of its status and requirements. Eventually, if this species proves to be as rare as is currently thought, it may be possible to re-introduce it to suitable sites within areas covered by agri-environment schemes, such as the Arable Stewardship Scheme.