Mosses are good at the moment, with many showing spore capsules which can often aid identification. Mosses require close attention to detail, with microscopic analysis generally being required for a first identification. Once you have your eye in, though, many can be identified readily in the field.
First, I have Bryum capillare, which I find mostly on wall tops, although it can also be found on verges:
Next, the capsule of Tortula muralis which is another wall-top moss:
Hookeria lucens is very easily recognised, and always grows on the walls of ditches.
The individual leaf-cells are huge, and can almost be seen with the naked eye. The top shoot here is about 6 mm. across.
Fissidens cristatus has fascinating leaves arranged in an overlapping fan:
Notice the darker portion to one half of each leaf. This is a double layer of cells that form a pocket, presumably for water retention. Individual leaves about 3 mm. long:
Thiudium tamariscinum grows on the trunks of trees:
Plagiomnium undulatum grows on the rear of ditches:
Mosses can be very beautiful and will repay your attention and research. As a man once said to me: "You have to get down to their level". How true.
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1 comment:
Nice page. Somne of thsoe larger-leaved ones look awfully like liverworts to the uninitiated....
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