Bryum radiculosum

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Identification notes

Bryum radiculosum is one of those species that’s easiest to recognise when it lacks capsules and is found in a single well-defined microhabitat – namely, lime-rich wall mortar. That’s because it is one of very few species of Bryum to be commonly found on hard/ calcareous substrates. Bryum capillare also likes such substrates but it is a larger, quite different-looking moss.

When B. radiculosum grows on calcareous soil – as it often does – it is easy to confuse with a number of other small soil-dwelling species and careful checking of capsule characters and/or rhizoids and tubers is needed.

Read the Field Guide account

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland

View distribution from the BBS Atlas 2014

Resources you may find useful

Holyoak, D. 2021. European Bryaceae.

David Holyoak’s book contains keys, detailed morphological, ecological and taxonomic descriptions and diagrams showing key features – and is highly recommended for anyone wishing to get to know Bryum species.

The Bryophyte identification page under Resources contains additional information on the genus Bryum, including an early version of the keys now published in David Holyoak’s book.

Bryophyte identification resources

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