More small things

Up in the deforested heath there is a slab of rock about 1m. across. This slab is a continual source of mosses, and I like to watch it at this time of year. This shot shows two of those mosses: in the foreground we have the hair-tipped leaves of Racomitrium lanuginosum, and the species with the elegant ruby-tipped capsules is Ceratodon purpureus.

This is how the Racomitrium looks in a habit shot. Specimen about 5 cm across.

Also on the rock is one of the smaller Polytrichums, Polytrichum juniperinum. These are male specimens, with the antheridia at the centre.

This green rosette might be a bit confusing at first, but once you get your eye in, it shouts 'liverwort'. Specimen about 6 cm. across.

Close-up examination reveals two rows of complex leaves, each doubled back on itself. This is diagnostic liverwort structure, and it turns out to be the very common Diplophyllum albicans. Main shoot about 12mm long.

There are also a few lichens in the area, on an old tree stump. This is Cladonia polydactyla, with tiny red fruitbodies. To the right you can see the Donegal speciality: Cladonia monodactyla (just joking).



And this is also a lichen, believe it or not. Peltigera membranacea, or Rabbit-paw lichen, growing through grass. Specimen about 30 cm. across.