News - Bryophyte of the month

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Celebrating Daniel Angell Jones in Harlech

A date for your diary On Thursday 4th April, a blue plaque will be unveiled at 5 Bronwen Terrace, Harlech, the house in which Daniel Angell Jones (1861-1936) lived during the time that he was headmaster at Harlech council school. Daniel Angell Jones was an eminent botanist and bryologist who was also a lecturer for […]

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Dicranella howei

Not the best photo, but a beautiful specimen of fruiting Dicranella howei (Howe’s Forklet-moss) nonetheless.  This species can often be seen fruiting in late winter / early spring and was spotted here on Gilwern Hill near Abergavenny at the start of January.

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Hamatocaulis vernicosus

This image was captured by Sharon Pilkington in a flush in the Comeragh Mountains, Waterford, in August 2023, and shows the red patches at the base of the leaves beautifully. Its common name is the rather beautiful Varnished Hook-moss.

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Drepanoclados lycopodioides

A robust and handsome moss (its common name Large Hook-moss doesn't really do it justice). This specimen was photographed by Sharon Pilkington during a Petalwort survey in March 2023, growing in a dune slack at Braunton Burrows, Devon.

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Metzgeria pubescens

This unmistakeable, pale green, furry liverwort (common name Downy Veilwort) was one of many beautiful bryophytes photographed during the 2023 BBS Autumn meeting on Ben Lawers.

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Bryum pallens

Bryums have a bad reputation for being tricky to identify, but this specimen of B. pallens (Pale Thread Moss) growing on rocks by a reservoir on Ben Lawers didn't pose too much of a problem thanks to it's salmon-pink colour and distinctly concave leaves. Seen here growing with Bryum pseudotriquetrum and the liverwort Blasia pusilla with it's characteristic gemmae.

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Encalypta ciliata

This beautiful image of the fringed calyptrae of Encalypta ciliata (Fringed Extinguisher-moss) was taken by Clare Shaw on the BBS meeting on Ben Lawers in 2023 (after the Centenary AGM). It is quite a feat to get everything looking so sharp, especially the cilia!

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Sphagnum medium

Another of the more unusual Sphagna seen at Silver Flowe in Galloway during the BBS Summer meeting 2023.  Sphagnum medium was only relatively recently split from S. divinum; both were formerly recorded as S. magellanicum.

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Sphagnum pulchrum

One of the rarer Sphagna seen at Silver Flowe in Galloway during the BBS Summer meeting 2023. Others included S. beothuk, S. austinii and S. medium. As it's name suggests, Sphagnum pulchrum is one of the most beautiful! Photo: Philippa Thompson.

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Grimmia decipiens

Grimmia decipiens  (Great Grimmia), spotted recently by Sharon Pilkington whilst pottering around a Sarsen stone site (Piggledene SSSI near Marlborough). The long hair points are a good indicator, and if you have good enough eyes, you might be able to see that they are coarsely toothed.

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