Leucobryum sp
Stanley Ghyll SSSI, Lake District
Both of our Leucobryum species occur widely in the Lake District, and in the capsules they are all but indistinguishable in the field. Sadly, I didn't collect a specimen from this spectacular epiphytic colony, so its true identity will remain a mystery!
Fissidens bryoides var.caespitans (syn. F.curnovii)
Baysbrown Wood SSSI, Lake District
The recent Checklist of European Bryophytes (2020) relegates F.curnovii to a variety of the widespread F.bryoides.
It is a plant of damp or wet acidic soil and rocks near streams, unlike F.bryoides, which favours drier, more open habitats. F.b.caespitans is characterised by having a densely-tomentose stem and by having usually inclined capsules and larger spores than F.bryoides. It is primarily a plant of western Britain, as befits its liking for permanently damp habitats.
It is a plant of damp or wet acidic soil and rocks near streams, unlike F.bryoides, which favours drier, more open habitats. F.b.caespitans is characterised by having a densely-tomentose stem and by having usually inclined capsules and larger spores than F.bryoides. It is primarily a plant of western Britain, as befits its liking for permanently damp habitats.
Tortella tortuosa
Glencoyne Wood SSSI, Lake District
This common moss of calcareous rocks is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Fissidens dubius
Stanley Ghyll SSSI, Lake District
This common Fissidens of base-rich rocks is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Trichostomum tenuirostre
Stanley Ghyll SSSI, Lake District
Unlike its common cousins, T.crispulum and T.brachydontium, T.tenuirostre is a plant of acidic rocks in very damp or often wet habitats, such as boulders in streams or rock crevices beside waterfalls. It is widespread in western Britain and common in the Lake District.
The stems are pale above with black lower parts, and the leaves are often undulating when moist. The leaf margins are often irregularly notched or toothed at the apices and the leaf cells are typical rounded-quadrate like other Trichostomums.
The stems are pale above with black lower parts, and the leaves are often undulating when moist. The leaf margins are often irregularly notched or toothed at the apices and the leaf cells are typical rounded-quadrate like other Trichostomums.
Hymenostylium recurvirostrum
Tilberthwaite Gill SSSI, Coniston, Lake District
Crinkle Gill, Lake District
In the north and west of Britain, this attractive, small moss is a frequent sight on damp, calcareous rocks in ravines and other sheltered habitats.
Distinctive features of Hymenostylium are its fine, tapering leaves with recurved margins and acute tips and its capsules which lack a peristome.
The most similar species in damp, craggy habitats are perhaps Eucladium verticillatum and Amphidium mougeotii. The former has capsules with a peristome and leaves with prominent teeth near the base. The latter has rounded-hexagonal upper leaf cells, favours acidic rocks and the leaf margins are only recurved in the lower half.
Hymenostylium has untoothed leaf bases, narrow nerve and capsules which bear a peristome (unlike Gymnostomum)
Distinctive features of Hymenostylium are its fine, tapering leaves with recurved margins and acute tips and its capsules which lack a peristome.
The most similar species in damp, craggy habitats are perhaps Eucladium verticillatum and Amphidium mougeotii. The former has capsules with a peristome and leaves with prominent teeth near the base. The latter has rounded-hexagonal upper leaf cells, favours acidic rocks and the leaf margins are only recurved in the lower half.
Hymenostylium has untoothed leaf bases, narrow nerve and capsules which bear a peristome (unlike Gymnostomum)
Anoectangium aestivum
Stonethwaite Wood SSSI, Borrowdale, Lake District
Anoectangium is described in the Mosses of Ben Lawers section of the site.
Syntrichia ruralis
Brown Robin NR, Cumbria
This common species of dry, acidic, sunny habitats is described in the Mosses of other areas of Scotland section of the site.
Schistidium platyphyllum
River Tees, near Cronkley, Teesdale
This dark Schistidium is a somewhat aquatic species, being found typically on base-rich boulders in upland rivers and streams. It is largely a species of the Pennines, with few occurrences elsewhere, apart from in the southern Cairngorms and south Wales.
Distingushing characters of this robust species are its weakly-keeled leaves which lack a hair-point and regularly-oblong exothecial cells.
Distingushing characters of this robust species are its weakly-keeled leaves which lack a hair-point and regularly-oblong exothecial cells.
Schistidium strictum
Honister Crags SSSI, Lake District
This beautiful coppery-coloured Schistidium species is very rare in northern England, being largely restricted to a few Lake District mountains and the adjacent western Pennines.
Schisitdium strictum is described in the Mosses of Ben Lawers section of the site.
Schisitdium strictum is described in the Mosses of Ben Lawers section of the site.
Grimmia donniana
Honister Pass, Lake District
Piers Gill, Lake District
Dry, acidic, upland rocks are the favoured site for this Grimmia in Britain, and it is especially common on the Lake District mountains. Plants often grow as scattered, discrete cushions with dark, hairy leaves and abundant capsules.
Identifying Grimmia donniana is usually fairly easy - the capsules are held on a straight seta, unlike the very common G.pulvinata (sse below) and under a microscope, the marginal cells at the leaf bases are distinctively long rectangular with thin cell walls (see photo below).
marginal cells at leaf base, Honister Pass
Identifying Grimmia donniana is usually fairly easy - the capsules are held on a straight seta, unlike the very common G.pulvinata (sse below) and under a microscope, the marginal cells at the leaf bases are distinctively long rectangular with thin cell walls (see photo below).
marginal cells at leaf base, Honister Pass
Grimmia torquata
Crinkle Gill, Lake District
Outside the Lake District, this upland Grimmia is known from just three other 10km squares in England; it is more common in Wales and very widespread in the Scottish Highlands.
G.torquata is described in the Mosses of Ben Lawers section of the site.
G.torquata is described in the Mosses of Ben Lawers section of the site.
Grimmia pulvinata
by Wastwater, Lake District
Britain's commonest Grimmia is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
The plant shown here is an unusually dark specimen with short hair points - I originally thought it was a different species, but microscopically, it proved to be the all-too-common G.pulvinata!
The plant shown here is an unusually dark specimen with short hair points - I originally thought it was a different species, but microscopically, it proved to be the all-too-common G.pulvinata!
Grimmia trichophylla
Brown Robin NR, Cumbria
This common Grimmia is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Racomitrium affine
Brown Robin NR, Cumbria
R. affine is a widespread, variable species, closely related to R. heterostichum. Microscopical identiication is needed, although the toothed hair points and yellowish-green colour are helpful pointers in the field.
Under a microscope, the leaf section of R. affine reveals a nerve that is 3-4 cells thick - that of heterostichum is only two cells thick. R. heterostichum tends to be a darker, often blackish species but conclusive identiication always relies on critical microsopical characters.
Under a microscope, the leaf section of R. affine reveals a nerve that is 3-4 cells thick - that of heterostichum is only two cells thick. R. heterostichum tends to be a darker, often blackish species but conclusive identiication always relies on critical microsopical characters.
Racomitrium ellipticum
Honister Pass, Lake District
The Lake District holds England's only recent records of this moss, which is widespread in the oceanic west of Scotland. It is a species of upland, slightly base-rich rocks, especially sloping rock slabs on mountainsides, where rain frequently runs across, but which dry quickly in the wind and sun.
R.ellipticum is named for the distinctively-shaped capsules, and as a whole, the plant is fairly easy to spot and recognise. It is a darker, reddish-brown colour than most Racomitriums, usually abundantly fertile, and occupies the distinctive habitat described above. At Honister Crags, this species is very abundant, with patches often covering large areas of the rock slabs where it is found.
R.ellipticum is named for the distinctively-shaped capsules, and as a whole, the plant is fairly easy to spot and recognise. It is a darker, reddish-brown colour than most Racomitriums, usually abundantly fertile, and occupies the distinctive habitat described above. At Honister Crags, this species is very abundant, with patches often covering large areas of the rock slabs where it is found.
Racomitrium aquaticum
Piers Gill, Lake District
This species is described in the Mosses of Ben Lawers NNR section of the site.
Racomitrium sudeticum
Cronkley Fell, Teesdale
This cushion-forming Racomitrium is a common and conspicuous plant of many acidic rocks in upland Britain, especially Scotland.
You can see an image of the diagnostic leaf section in the Mosses of Ben Lawers section of the site.
You can see an image of the diagnostic leaf section in the Mosses of Ben Lawers section of the site.
Racomitrium heterostichum
Piers Gill, Lake District
This widespread and variable Racomitrium is described in the Mosses of Ben Lawers section of the site, where there is also an image of the diagnostic leaf section.
Racomitrium ericoides
Piers Gill, Lake District The commonest member of the R.canescens aggregate of species in Britain, R.ericoides is widespread in the Lake District and Pennines. Capsules are less frequent in this species than some other members of the genus, and the plants photographed here looked spectacular , as the entire patch was fruiting.
You can see photos of the microscopic characters in the Mosses of Ben Lawers section of the site.
You can see photos of the microscopic characters in the Mosses of Ben Lawers section of the site.
Racomitrium elongatum
Cronkley Fell, Teesdale
This species is described in the Mosses of Ben Lawers NNR section of the site. It is less common than R.ericoides in England, but perhaps under-recorded as well.
Ptychomitrium polyphyllum
Honister Pass, Lake District
This attractive moss is widespread in the Lake District, but appears rare in the adjacent northern Pennines, with few recent records.
I've described it in more detail in the Mosses of other areas of Scotland section of the site.
I've described it in more detail in the Mosses of other areas of Scotland section of the site.
Glyphomitrium daviesii
Honister Pass SSSI
This little oceanic moss is extremely rare in the Lake District, and had not been seen there for 50 years until it was discovered by Tom Blockeel and me at Honister Crags SSSI in 2019. The populations are tiny, consisting of very small patches at widely separated sites.
This species is described in the Mosses of other areas of Scotland section of the site.
This species is described in the Mosses of other areas of Scotland section of the site.
Tetraplodon mnioides
Cronkley Fell, Teesdale
Tetraplodon is described in the Mosses of other areas of Scotland section of the site.
Anomobryum julaceum
Honister Crags SSSI, Lake District
Hell Gill, Lake District
Bryum alpinum
below Crinkle Crags, Lake District
One of Britain's most attractive Bryum species, this lovely plant is also one of the easiest of the genus to identify: it has a characteristically glossy appearance, with older leaves often having a pinkish-purple colour which contrasts with the yellowish-green new growth at the tips. B.alpinum grows in damp habitats and, despite its name, is a largely lowland species in Britain. Unlike many in the genus, capsules are rare.
Mnium hornum
Stanley Ghyll SSSI, Lake District
This very common woodland species is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Plagiomnium elatum
Cronkley Fell, Teesdale
This widespread Plagiomnium is a typical resident of flushes and marshy ground where the water is calcareous.
Although similar to some other members of the genus, it is recognisable in the field by its broadly-decurrent leaf bases.
Although similar to some other members of the genus, it is recognisable in the field by its broadly-decurrent leaf bases.
Aulacomnium palustre
Bowness Common SSSI, Solway Firth, Cumbria
Bartramia pomiformis
Johnny Wood NR, Borrowdale, Lake District
This common upland species is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Batramia halleriana
Glencoyne Wood SSSI, Lake District
This large, robust species in one of the bryological specialities of the Lake District, where it is locally common in woodland on calcareous rock ledges.
B.halleriana is easily distinguished from the two other widespread British Bartramias by its size (stems can be 15cm long) and the capsules, which remain immersed within the stems on curved setae.
B.halleriana is easily distinguished from the two other widespread British Bartramias by its size (stems can be 15cm long) and the capsules, which remain immersed within the stems on curved setae.
Breutelia chrysocoma
Stonethwaite Wood SSSI, Borrowdale, Lake District
Breutelia is common in upland Cumbria, especially in rocky, oceanic woodlands. The species is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Amphidium mougeotii
Piers Gill, Lake District
This species is described in the Mosses of other areas of Scotland section of the site.
Orthotrichum striatum
below Dungeon Ghyll, Lake District
The key character for identifying this rare Orthotrichum is in the capusles, which are characteristically smooth when dry and empty - they are never wrinkled or ribbed. Capsules in this species are on short setae, and often appear at least partially immersed in shoot apices. Stomata are superficial and the exostome teeth are strongly recurved when dry and often distinctly coloured (orange-brown when fresh, fading to a yellowish tone). The most similar species, O.shawii, is believed to be extinct in Britain, having not been seen since the mid 19th century.
Orthotrichum stramineum
below Dungeon Ghyll, Lake District
This species is described in the Bryophytes of other areas of northern England section of the site.
Thuidium delicatulum
Honister Crags SSSI, Lake District
Cronkley Fell, Teesdale
This moisture-loving Thuidium species is always a very nice find. It resembles T.assimile, and shares with it the microscopical character of having branch leaves with papillose apical cells and paraphyllia with papillae in the middle of the cells. T.delicatulum is distinguished by having stem leaves which end in a single, long cells - those of T.assimile have a long apex of 5 or more short cells, although these may break off in older leaves, so it is advisable to check several leaves to be certain.
Scorpidium cossonii
Cronkley Fell, Teesdale
Similar in appearance to S.revolvens, this more widespread and lowland species often needs to be viewed microscopically to confirm its identity. S.cossonii often has shorter leaf cells than S.revolvens (measured high up the leaf), although the range of the lengths overlaps in the two species and, more importantly, the basal leaf cells have horizontal or only slightly-tapered ends (those of S.revolvens are longly-tapering). Other useful field characters (but not definitive) are the mostly green colour, more tufted habit and rarer occurrence of capsules.
Platyhypnidium riparioides
Honister Pass, Lake District
A robust moss of inundated rocks and tree bases in flowing water, this species is common throughout much of lowland Britain. It forms large patches of long stems with fairly short, ovate, toothed leaves and has a very different look from the other common 'stream moss' Fontinalis antipyretica, which has longer, keeled leaves and longer stems.
Hylocomiastrum
Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans
Stanley Ghyll SSSI, Lake District
This very common woodland species is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Sematophyllum micans
Glencoyne Wood SSSI, Lake District
Johnny Wood NR, Borrowdale, Lake District
Another bryological speciality of the Lake District, this oceanic moss has its entire English distribution here. It geows on damp, vertical rock faces and boulders in woodland, where it can be locally common. The glossy, very slender shoots can form extensive patches and make this species generally easy to recognise.
Calliergonella cuspidata
Stonethwaite Wood SSSI, Borrowdale, Lake District
This very common moss of wet, acidic habitats is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Campylium stellatum
Crinkle Crags, Lake District
This common upland species is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Eurhynchium striatum
Stanley Ghyll SSSI, Lake District
This common moss is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Plagiothecium undulatum
Johnny Wood SSSI, Borrowdale, Lake District
Scorpidium revolvens
Stonethwaite Wood SSSI, Borrowdale, Lake District
This attractive species occurs widely in base-rich flushes in the Lake District.
I've described it more fully in the Mosses of Ben Lawers section of the site.
I've described it more fully in the Mosses of Ben Lawers section of the site.
Hypnum jutlandicum
Drumburgh Moss SSSI, Cumbria
This species is common on moorland and other open, acidic habitats, such as heathland. It is a fairly large Hypnum and often forms conspicuous spreading patches amongst heather. It is often a brown colour but fresh shoots are pale green.
In Cumbria, the rare H. imponens also occurs, which looks very similar to H. jutlandicum. The two species are best differentiated by examining the paraphyllia under a microscope - those of imponens are noticeably toothed. Stem colour is also different - imponens has dark red stems, instead of the green of jutlandicum.
In Cumbria, the rare H. imponens also occurs, which looks very similar to H. jutlandicum. The two species are best differentiated by examining the paraphyllia under a microscope - those of imponens are noticeably toothed. Stem colour is also different - imponens has dark red stems, instead of the green of jutlandicum.
Ptilium crista-castrensis
Glencoyne Wood SSSI, Lake District
This beautiful moss of oceanic woodlands is widespread in the Lake District.
I've described it in the Mosses of other areas of Scotland section of the site.
I've described it in the Mosses of other areas of Scotland section of the site.
Hyocomium amoricum
Baysbrown Wood SSSI, Lake District
This common species of wet, acidic rocks is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Neckera crispa
Tilberthwaite Gill SSSI, Coniston, Lake District
A familiar sight on calcareous crags in much of northern England, N. crispa is a good indicator of rich ground in Cumbria, where many hills can be rather dull and acidic.
The species is described in more detail in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
The species is described in more detail in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Pseudoscleropodium purum
Brown Robin NR, Cumbria
