News - 2022

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Bryum dichotomum

This month's image just demonstrates the beauty of ordinary mosses, for those who are willing to look and see. Here we have immature capsules of the extremely common Bryum dichotomum (Bicoloured Bryum), taken towards the end of the day as the light was beginning to fade. Normally recognised by its abundant bulbils, B. dichotomum also often has capsules which are pendulous, relatively short and fat, and often have a mamillate lid like these.

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Fossombronia wondraczekii

Luxuriant Fossombronia wondraczekii (Acid Frillwort) growing on soil banks around the Usk Reservoir in October 2022. Curiously, of the 4 reservoirs in Brecknock visited this autumn, this was the only one where any Fossombronia was found.

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Mielichhoferia elongata

Mielichhoferia elongata (Elongate Copper Moss) captured recently at one of its 2 known sites in England, in the Cleveland Hills, North Yorkshire - where it seems to be doing very well!

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Tortella squarrosa

Probably better known by its old name of Pleurochaete squarrosa (Side-fruited Crisp-moss), this photo was taken on limestone pavement at Gait Barrows NNR in Lancashire, and shows the plant both moist (in the mid-ground) and dry (in the background). Always a pleasure to find!

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Scapania nimbosa

Scapania nimbosa (Cloud Earwort) is a relatively rare liverwort of cool, wet climates and a typical member of the northern hepatic mat of north-west Scotland.  It is instantly recognisable in the field by the long, spinose teeth. This specimen was spotted by Gordon Rothero on Corra Bheinn during the recent BBS meeting on Jura. It was growing as scattered shoots amongst other liverwort species. You can see more photos on the Species page at https://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/learning/species-finder/scapania-nimbosa/.

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Glyphomitrium davesii

Glyphomitrium davesii (Black-tufted moss) was a fairly frequent occurrence on the recent BBS meeting on Jura. This is an easy species to overlook unless it happens to be fruiting, which fortunately it often does! This abundantly fruiting specimen was spotted by David Long, on the side of a boulder near Glenbatrick on the west coast.

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Ditrichum subulatum

From a specimen collected at Merthen Wood in Cornwall on the 2022 BBS Spring Meeting. Sharon Pilkington led a couple of very successful searches along the creeks around the Helford River, where it was frequently found growing with Cephaloziella turneri (Bryophyte of the month for April) . It is quite a tricky species to photograph in the field though, thanks to its habit of growing in shady underhangs along creek banks.

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Calyptrochaeta apiculata

Calyptrochaeta apiculata (Southern Hookeria) was much admired on the BBS Spring meeting in Cornwall, March 2022. It really does look like a baby Hookeria lucens, but look more closely and you will spot the pointed leaf apex. The image above was taken by Jonathan Sleath at Frenchman's Creek, and gives some idea of the habitat on creek banks.

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Cephaloziella turneri

This microscope image of a shoot and perianth of Cephaloziella turneri (Turner's Threadwort) was taken from a specimen collected on the BBS Spring Meeting in Cornwall, 2022. Several populations were found in creeks along the Helford River, but this one was actually growing inland on a private estate near Bodmin. (Click below for the full image).

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Didymodon glaucus

Glaucus Beard-moss, photographed by Sharon Pilkington at its only known British site in Wiltshire in February 2022. It is growing on soft shaded chalk in a disused chalk pit, and Sharon reports that it seems to be doing quite well!

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