It has a pan-European distribution occurring widely in base-rich sub-alpine areas. The variety
hibernica has been known in Ireland since the late nineteenth century where it occurs on
limestone rocks and sand
dunes. It is distinct from the other Irish members of the genus in that it has a
glabrous capsule, normally red-brown or bronze coloured foliage and un-contiguous leaf teeth. The subspecies
E. s. subsp. schoenicola is endemic to
Gotland. ==Ecology==