Orthotrichum diaphanum

From a rock at Carlingnose Point nature reserve, the only Orthotrichum which has a hair pointed leaf. Also the one whose calyptra looks most like a watermelon

Calypogeia muelleriana

Another one from the Hermitage

Lateral leaf margins entire, no blue oil bodies, underleaves 2-lobed to 1/2-3/4 with 4-6 rows of cells, these 30-80um long

Bi-lobed underleaves

'pointy lateral leaf tips' - no notch, no blue oil

leaf tip underleaves

Hermitage, Perthshire

On a day trip to walk to the wonderful hermitage in Perthshire, a watery wonderland where the autumn leaves are a bit past their best. The bryophytes, though, are luscious, and I couldn't resists snagging a couple even though I was 'off duty'. Favourite of the day was Bazzania trolobata, which I have wanted to see for a while. One of those things you see in the field guide and look forward to meeting it.

I don't have photos that really do it justice. Might have to try again on that.

(to the left is down)

Each leaf has 3 or four points

Branches below point back into the 'mound'

Carlingnose coverage extended

Now all the main squares have had some visit at least, although there is a lot more investigation to be done. 34 species in the bag, with the most diverse square having 21 spp recorded. I suspect some of those spp were actually recorded in another square earlier in the year though. Not sure what to do with them, but they include Hedwigia so I don't want to lose that one!

Coverage map:

A few location shots:

And some of its inhabitants:

And the list so far:

Preferred Name

Common Name

Taxon

Fossombronia pusilla	Common Frillwort	liverwort
Lophocolea bidentata	Bifid Crestwort	liverwort
Atrichum undulatum	Common Smoothcap	moss
Barbula convoluta	Lesser Bird's-claw Beard-moss	moss
Brachythecium rutabulum	Rough-stalked Feather-moss	moss
Bryoerythrophyllum recurvirostrum	Red Beard-moss	moss
Bryum argenteum	Silver-moss	moss
Bryum capillare	Capillary Thread-moss	moss
Calliergonella cuspidata	Pointed Spear-moss	moss
Ceratodon purpureus	Redshank	moss
Cirriphyllum piliferum	Hair-pointed Feather-moss	moss
Dicranoweisia cirrata	Common Pincushion	moss
Didymodon insulanus	Cylindric Beard-moss	moss
Eurhynchium praelongum	Common Feather-moss	moss
Eurhynchium striatum	Common Striated Feather-moss	moss
Fissidens bryoides	Lesser Pocket-moss	moss
Fissidens taxifolius	Common Pocket-moss	moss
Grimmia pulvinata	Grey-cushioned Grimmia	moss
Hedwigia stellata	Starry Hoar-moss	moss
Hypnum cupressiforme	Cypress-leaved Plait-moss	moss
Hypnum jutlandicum	Heath Plait-moss	moss
Mnium hornum	Swan's-neck Thyme-moss	moss
Orthotrichum anomalum	Anomalous Bristle-moss	moss
Orthotrichum cupulatum	Hooded Bristle-moss	moss
Orthotrichum stramineum	Straw Bristle-moss	moss
Oxyrrhynchium hians	Swartz's Feather-moss	moss
Philonotis sp.		moss
Polytrichum formosum	Bank Haircap	moss
Racomitrium aciculare	Yellow Fringe-moss	moss
Racomitrium heterostichum	Bristly Fringe-moss	moss
Rhizomnium punctatum	Dotted Thyme-moss	moss
Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus	Springy Turf-moss	moss
Sanionia uncinata	Sickle-leaved Hook-moss	moss
Scleropodium purum	Neat Feather-moss	moss
Thuidium tamariscinum	Common Tamarisk-moss	moss
Weissia controversa	Green-tufted Stubble-moss	moss

Fossombronia pusilla!!!

A plant I've been looking forward to seeing. Finding it myself is a bonus, as often nice plants emerge from group outings. The third record that I can discern from Fife and there aren't enormous numbers of records from Scotland it would seem. In Fife it is known from the area around Star Moss (NO306035) and just south of Thornton (NT285959). All three Fife records on NBN are from 2004.

Distribution from NBN

Pictures

Habit

Habit 2 - sporophyte emerging

Purple rhizoids

Broken sporophyte

Spores

Spores and elater

Weissia controversa s.l.

Nestled on a veritcal soil banking beside Fissidens taxifolius, this tiny moss seems to be one of a complex which has been split. While I did have a capsule, as can be seen from the photos, and this is the thing which you need to determine which variant you have, I inadvertently blew it from the stage of my compound microscope never to be seen again!

It has long (for its size) pointed leaves with involute margins in the mid-section, before opening out to a point at the apex. The leaf base is broader and not papillose, giving a three stage effect. The leaves crisp up nicely on drying.

BBS field guide page

The whole thing (or "habit")

Base close-up

Single leaf when wet and extended. c.2.5mm

Transition to papillose middle section

And pointy apex

Carlingnose Sanionia

Beautiful moss found in the second place at Carlingnose. I had always known this from trees before but in both cases here it has been on rocks. Looking at the books, it seems that rock is fine as a substrate. Every day's a school day. Beautiful moss, wherever it is.