Friday, 12 December 2014
Bryum dichotomum from Carlingnose Point
In a typical location on some very open ground bordering the entrance to the reserve and the end of the road. Note the leaf axil bulbils in the lower photo
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| habit |
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| bulbils |
Monday, 8 December 2014
Plagiochila porelloides
New technique gives nice images of a liverwort, though may not show the in field character of the beast
Thursday, 4 December 2014
Ironic twist
Though I'm not sure you can really get high from smoking a Radula, one of the mushrooms found on Sunday was Panaeolinus cinctatus, which has psychotropic properties. Not THE magic mushroom but a magic mushroom nonetheless. Sorry to say I can't report back on the effectiveness or otherwise. You shall have to find your own.
Wednesday, 3 December 2014
Radula complanata gets you high (erm ... really?)
A beautiful, if not scarce, liverwort from weekend outing to Stobo, and a very weird video I found while searching for the species (Google suggested "radula complanata smoking" !)
I particularly love how the genius in the video identifies it as a lichen (while apparently holding in his hand the BBS field guide) then goes on to identify some "sphagnum" he takes from the side of a tree.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2FGUKNUTR0
I particularly love how the genius in the video identifies it as a lichen (while apparently holding in his hand the BBS field guide) then goes on to identify some "sphagnum" he takes from the side of a tree.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2FGUKNUTR0
Tuesday, 2 December 2014
Double vision
Two nice new byrophytes - Bryum radiculosum and Riccia sorocarpa. Both of them were new to me on Sunday and both new to Carlingnose Point on Monday!
Having been first introduced to the Riccia by LK beside the path on Sunday in Peeblesshire I was aware of the existence of this liverwort and its likely location, but it was the Bryum that made it happen. DL showed us it on Sunday and so I knew it was both under-recorded and mortar-loving. I had in my mind a location with lots of old mortar which I headed for on Monday lunchtime with immediate success. It took me no more than a minute to find what I was looking for. This is the benefit of spending time in the field with people who know what they're doing! Neither species had been recorded in NT18 before (according to NBN - let's see what the atlas says). Close inspection of both specimens revealed only somewhat disappointing tubers. they were there, but smallish and not very interesting. 80um was the biggest I could find (which was from the Fife sample). You can see a couple clinging to the stem of the Peeblesshire specimen below. Maybe I need to dig a bit deeper and wash carefully.
"Radiculose": producing many rootlets
Peebles:
Fife:
and the current NBN map for the Bryum ...
(details from VC85, or close enough:
Easter Muirhead, NS99, 1978 - DL
Glenfarg, NO11, 1977 - DL
N. of Kinghorn,NT2787, 01/04/2011 - LK/DC)
Having been first introduced to the Riccia by LK beside the path on Sunday in Peeblesshire I was aware of the existence of this liverwort and its likely location, but it was the Bryum that made it happen. DL showed us it on Sunday and so I knew it was both under-recorded and mortar-loving. I had in my mind a location with lots of old mortar which I headed for on Monday lunchtime with immediate success. It took me no more than a minute to find what I was looking for. This is the benefit of spending time in the field with people who know what they're doing! Neither species had been recorded in NT18 before (according to NBN - let's see what the atlas says). Close inspection of both specimens revealed only somewhat disappointing tubers. they were there, but smallish and not very interesting. 80um was the biggest I could find (which was from the Fife sample). You can see a couple clinging to the stem of the Peeblesshire specimen below. Maybe I need to dig a bit deeper and wash carefully.
"Radiculose": producing many rootlets
Peebles:
Fife:
and the current NBN map for the Bryum ...
(details from VC85, or close enough:
Easter Muirhead, NS99, 1978 - DL
Glenfarg, NO11, 1977 - DL
N. of Kinghorn,NT2787, 01/04/2011 - LK/DC)
Monday, 1 December 2014
Bryo outing NT1837, Stobo, Peeblesshire
A group of 11 (I think) assembled for the inaugural meeting of the Borders Bryophyte Recording Group in the environs of Stobo. During the morning we managed to cover two squares and in the afternoon one more (again, I think!).It was good to get out to somewhere local(ish), with representatives of both Lothian and D&G groups with some additional locals. Looking forward to another.
The bryophytes
Beside 'the usual suspects' there were also some interesting mosses, and some new ones for me which will go under the microscope shortly. In addition to the below new, if not spectacular, were Dicranella staphylina, Dicranella varia and Dicranella rufescens. It would be unfair not to mention that D.heteromalla also put in an appearance. To finish off the day another new one for me, Bryum radiculosum was located on the mortar of an abandoned and ruined building. I don't appear to have photos from the field, but I will especially try to locate its tubers under the lens.
Off topic
One of the features of the day was the wealth of fungi on display and in fine form
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| Mossy wall - always a favourite for starting the day |
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| Welly territory |
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| Brachythecium rivulare determinations |
The bryophytes
Beside 'the usual suspects' there were also some interesting mosses, and some new ones for me which will go under the microscope shortly. In addition to the below new, if not spectacular, were Dicranella staphylina, Dicranella varia and Dicranella rufescens. It would be unfair not to mention that D.heteromalla also put in an appearance. To finish off the day another new one for me, Bryum radiculosum was located on the mortar of an abandoned and ruined building. I don't appear to have photos from the field, but I will especially try to locate its tubers under the lens.
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| Neckera pumila |
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| Neckera pumila |
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| Syntrichium laevipilum (not new but always nice) |
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| Plagiomnium rostratum (also not new) |
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| Riccia sorocarpa |
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| Pseudephemerum nitidum |
One of the features of the day was the wealth of fungi on display and in fine form
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| Crystal Jelly |
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| Meadow Waxcap |
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| Panaeolus cinctulus |
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| Stereum hirsutum? |
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| ? |
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| Pholiota - a Scalycap |
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| ? |
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| ? |
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| Amazingly profuse Slime Mould, Ceratiomyxa fruticulosa |
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| Splendid Waxcap - who could argue! |
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| The end |
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