Mosses on Pennard Castle

The following mosses were noted during a brief visit to Pennard Castle to check out the Yellow Whitlow-grass:

Tortella nitida (Neat Crisp-moss) wet

Tortella nitida (Neat Crisp-moss) dry

Tortella nitida (Neat Crisp-moss)
main associate of Yellow Whitlow-grass (Draba aizoides)

Syntrichia montana (Intermediate Screw-moss)

Syntrichia montana (Intermediate Screw-moss)

Other species noted were Anomodon viticulosus (Rambling Tail-moss), Homalothecium sericeum (Silky Wall Feather-moss) and Tortula muralis (Wall Screw-moss), but no doubt there will have been others.

Urban Weissia

The capsules are not yet developed enough to allow full identification, but assuming I've got the genus correct, this large dense cushion, found growing directly beneath a galvanized fence, was found growing in a situation perhaps suited for Weissia controversa var. densifolia (Thick-leaved Stubble-moss) [confirmed by Sam Bosanquet]. I'll check it again once the capsules ripen...

Whiteford 'new slack' Bryos (1)

This large new slack has developed a diverse assemblage of vascular plants over the last few years (see http://goweros.blogspot.com/2010/06/profusion-of-marsh-orchids-at-whiteford.html) and today Veronica Shenston and myself attempted to put together a species list of mosses and liverworts. Given our limited experience with with these groups, the species recorded are likely to be no more than a representative sample of what is actually present and some species require confirmation from specimens collected:

Cratoneuron filicinum (Fern-leaved Hook-moss)

Cratoneuron filicinum (Fern-leaved Hook-moss)

Drepanocladus aduncus (Kneiff's Hook-moss)

The only other pleurocarp noted was Calliergonella cuspidata (Pointed Spear-moss)

Whiteford 'new slack' Bryophytes (2)

Didymodon tophaceus (Olive Beard-moss)

Didymodon tophaceus (Olive Beard-moss)

Unidentified [Identified by David Holyoak as a blunt-leaved, winter-
flood form of Bryum pseudotriquetrum, with affinities to B. neodamense]

Bryum pseudotriquetrum (Marsh Bryum)

Whiteford 'new slack' liverworts

Aneura pinguis (Greasewort) det. Sam Bosanquet

Aneura pinguis (Greasewort) det. Sam Bosanquet

Riccardia chamedryfolia (Jagged Germanderwort)

Rose-moss at Cwm Ivy Tor

Veronica after discovering Rhodobryum!

Rhodobryum roseum (Rose-moss)

Rhossili Bryophytes (1)

I was lucky enough to accompany Sam Bosanquet on one of his CCW monitoring visits to the limestone outcrops on Rhossili headland and was amazed by the diversity of bryophytes, many of which are scarce representatives of the Mediterranean element of our bryophyte flora. Very many thanks to Sam for his time and patience.

Weissia controversa var. crispata (Crisped Stubble-moss)

Weissia levieri (Levier's Beardless-moss)

Weissia levieri (Levier's Beardless-moss)

Weissia levieri (Levier's Beardless-moss)

Weissia longifolia (Crisp Beardless-moss)

Weissia longifolia (Crisp Beardless-moss)

Weissia longifolia (Crisp Beardless-moss)

 Weissia longifolia with hybrid W. l. x controversa sporophyte (left of centre)

Weissia longifolia with hybrid W. l. x controversa sporophyte (dead centre)

Rhossili liverworts

Fossombronia husnotii (Husnot's Frillwort)

Fossombronia husnotii (Husnot's Frillwort)

Reboulia hemisphaerica (Hemisphaeric Liverwort)

Frullania tamarisci (Tamarisk Scalewort)

Scapania aspera (Rough Earwort)

Cephaloziella sp. (threadwort species), possibly C. calyculata

Riccia sorocarpa (Common Crystalwort)

Rhossili Bryophytes (2)

Two petite species...

Aloina aloides (Common Aloe-moss)

Microbryum starckeanum (Starke's Pottia)

Some cushion-forming species...

Syntrichia montana (Intermediate Screw-moss)

Grimmia pulvinata (Grey-cushioned Grimmia)

Grimmia orbicularis (Round-fruited Grimmia)

Grimmia orbicularis (Round-fruited Grimmia)

Rhossili Bryophytes (3)

Bryum donianum (Don's Thread-moss)

 Bryum kunzei (Funck's Thread-moss)

Encalypta vulgaris (Common Extinguisher-moss)

Pleurochaete squarrosa (Side-fruited Crisp-moss)

Pleurochaete squarrosa (Side-fruited Crisp-moss)
leaves starting to dry out

Scorpiurium circinatum (Curving Feather-moss)

Scleropodium touretii (Glass-wort Feather-moss)

Rhossili Church

Entosthodon pulchellus (Pretty Cord-moss)

Entosthodon pulchellus (Pretty Cord-moss)

Entosthodon pulchellus (Pretty Cord-moss)