Mesoptychia badensis
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
A very small liverwort of damp, calcareous habitats, M.badensis is relatively widespread in northern England.
It can be recognised by the broad, decurrent leaf bases and lack of underleaves. Perianths are common in this species but gemmae are not produced.
It can be recognised by the broad, decurrent leaf bases and lack of underleaves. Perianths are common in this species but gemmae are not produced.
Jungermannia atrovirens
Malham Tarn SSSI, North Yorkshire
I've described this species in the Liverworts of Derbyshire section of the site.
This species is widespread in northern England, and in wet, calcareous areas is one of the most commonly-seen liverworts.
This species is widespread in northern England, and in wet, calcareous areas is one of the most commonly-seen liverworts.
Plagiochila britannica
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
Text coming soon.
Marchesinia mackaii
Ingleton Falls, North Yorkshire
Anston Stones Wood, South Yorkshire
I've described this species in the Liverworts of Derbyshire section of the site.
This oceanic liverwort is very rare in northern England, where it occurs in the far west of the Yorkshire Dales and on the Magnesian Limestone in South Yorkshire. It also occurs in adjacent Cumbria and Derbyshire (see relevant pages on this site).
This oceanic liverwort is very rare in northern England, where it occurs in the far west of the Yorkshire Dales and on the Magnesian Limestone in South Yorkshire. It also occurs in adjacent Cumbria and Derbyshire (see relevant pages on this site).
Microlejeunea ulicina
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
This tiny species is described in the Liverworts of other areas of Scotland section of the site.
In northern England, Microlejeunea is very much a western species with very few occurrences on or east of the Pennine watershed.
In northern England, Microlejeunea is very much a western species with very few occurrences on or east of the Pennine watershed.
Colura calyptrifolia
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
This uncommon, but increasing, species is described in the Liverworts of Derbyshire section of the site.
Colura can be found at scattered sites in the south-west Pennines.
Colura can be found at scattered sites in the south-west Pennines.
Cololejeunea rossettiana
Anston Stones Wood, South Yorkshire
I've described this species in the Liverworts of Derbyshire section of the site.
This rare, southern species occurs at scattered sites in or near the Pennines in northern England.
This rare, southern species occurs at scattered sites in or near the Pennines in northern England.
Fossombronia wondraczekii
Strines Reservoir, South Yorkshire
Along with F.pusilla, this is the most widespread and abundant of Britain's Fossombronia species. All of them resemble minature lettuces, and small characters, including spore size can be important in determining the exact species. F.wondraczekii can be identified by the lamellae on its spores, which have many short spines protruding from them.
Although relatively uncommon in northern England, this species is a typical liverwort of bare reservoir margins in the Pennines - a habitat not occupied by other members of the genus.
Although relatively uncommon in northern England, this species is a typical liverwort of bare reservoir margins in the Pennines - a habitat not occupied by other members of the genus.
Aneura pinguis
Malham Tarn SSSI, North Yorkshire
Aneura is described in the Liverworts of Derbyshire section of the site.
It is common across northern Britain, especially in the west and in the Pennines. East of the Pennines, it is more scattered due to lack of suitable habitat.
It is common across northern Britain, especially in the west and in the Pennines. East of the Pennines, it is more scattered due to lack of suitable habitat.
Conocephalum sp
Anston Stones Wood, South Yorkshire
Text coming soon!
Reboulia hemisphaerica
Malham Tarn SSSI, North Yorkshire
This widespread liverwort of calcareous soil and rocks is described in the Liverworts of Derbyshire section of the site.
In northern England, it is mostly restricted to the Pennines.
In northern England, it is mostly restricted to the Pennines.
Riccia cavernosa
Dale Dike Reservoir, South Yorkshire
The typical habitat for this attractive and distinctive Riccia is exposed, damp mud on non-acidic reservoir margins. This preference for soil chemistry makes it relatively scarce in northern England, where many reservoirs are in acidic, upland areas.
R.cavernosa is easy to recognise by its porous, spongy thallus and neat rosette-forming habit. Importantly, there is never any trace of red colours at the centre of the rosettes (see R.huebneriana below).
R.cavernosa is easy to recognise by its porous, spongy thallus and neat rosette-forming habit. Importantly, there is never any trace of red colours at the centre of the rosettes (see R.huebneriana below).
Riccia huebneriana
Strines Reservoir, South Yorkshire
Much rarer than R.cavernosa, this attractive liverwort is scarce in Britain as a whole. It is closely related to R.cavernosa and shares its spongy thallus but has much longer lobes which are often purple at their base. Sometimes, as shown here, nearly the whole thallus can be purple, with just the tips being a bright yellow-green. The tips of the lobes in R.huebneriana also have a distinct groove, which is lacking in R.cavernosa.
Although rare, R.huebneriana can be extremely abundant where it occurs - here at Strines Reservoir on the Derbyshire-South Yorkshire border, there were countless thousands of rosettes scattered over very large areas of exposed mud on the reservoir margins. Like other Riccias, the species is ephemeral and survives by spores in the mud when the plants become inundated each winter.
Although rare, R.huebneriana can be extremely abundant where it occurs - here at Strines Reservoir on the Derbyshire-South Yorkshire border, there were countless thousands of rosettes scattered over very large areas of exposed mud on the reservoir margins. Like other Riccias, the species is ephemeral and survives by spores in the mud when the plants become inundated each winter.
Distichium capillaceum
Anston Stones Wood, South Yorkshire
This species is described in the Mosses of Ben Lawers NNR section of the site.
Dicranum scoparium
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
This common species is described in the Mosses of Ben Lawers section of the site.
Dicranodontium denudatum
Ingleton Falls, North Yorkshire
This oceanic moss is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Fissidens adianthoides
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
Along with F.osmundoides, this Fissidens is a typical robust species of damp habitats, often but not exclusively where the water is base-rich.
Typical F.adianthoides can be recognised by a combination of habitat, size and having its capsules emerging from the middle of the stems (the similar F.osmundoides has capsule emergent from the tip of the stems).
In upland areas of Britain, this species is relatively indifferent to soil chemistry, but lowland populations are largely restricted to base-rich sites.
Typical F.adianthoides can be recognised by a combination of habitat, size and having its capsules emerging from the middle of the stems (the similar F.osmundoides has capsule emergent from the tip of the stems).
In upland areas of Britain, this species is relatively indifferent to soil chemistry, but lowland populations are largely restricted to base-rich sites.
Gymnostomum aeruginosum
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
This bright green, cushion-forming moss is a typical resident of wet, sheltered, calcareous rocks, especially crags in ravines and other permanently humid sites.
G.aeruginosum is similar to other species which grow in the same habitat, such as the much less common G.calcareum, but under a microscope the nerve of aeruginosum is seen to broad and strong.
G.aeruginosum is similar to other species which grow in the same habitat, such as the much less common G.calcareum, but under a microscope the nerve of aeruginosum is seen to broad and strong.
Didymodon fallax
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
Common across much of the British Isles, this low-growing Didymodon is typical of open, base-rich soil, where it is often one of the first species to colonise and dominate.
Identification of small Didymodons can be tricky, and key features to look for in D.fallax are the elongate cells on the top of the nerve (this rules out most other species), frequent orange colouration (although not in the plants in this photo) and short, triangular leaves often slightly recurved.
Identification of small Didymodons can be tricky, and key features to look for in D.fallax are the elongate cells on the top of the nerve (this rules out most other species), frequent orange colouration (although not in the plants in this photo) and short, triangular leaves often slightly recurved.
Didymodon ferrugineus
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
Microscopically, this species is very similar to D.fallax (above) and plants intermediate between the two species can be very tricky to identify. D.ferrugineus usually has much more strongly recurved leaves and an strong orange colour. Well-developed material has stems with leaves clearly arranged in three rows and there is a very small central strand in the stem cortex.
D.ferrugineus is widespread in Britain, but restricted to calcareous regions.
D.ferrugineus is widespread in Britain, but restricted to calcareous regions.
Didymodon spadiceus
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
This fairly robust Didymodon species is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Schistidium robustum
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
Very much a northern species in Britain, this hairy Schistidium is rare, and restricted mainly to limestone regions, although it grows on other base-rich rocks in Scotland.
S.robustum can be identified by its strongly-toothed hair point and entirely sinuouse leaf cells. The cells in the capsules are also long and thin.
S.robustum can be identified by its strongly-toothed hair point and entirely sinuouse leaf cells. The cells in the capsules are also long and thin.
Racomitrium lanuginosum
Ingleborough NNR, North Yorkshire
This common species of exposed, upland, acidic rocks is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Discelium nudum
female plants
in habitat, Strines Reservoir, South Yorkshire (both photos)
This unusual moss is named for the fact that fruiting stems bear almost invisibly-small leaves - it appears that the capsules emerge straight up from the soil. Male and female plants are strikingly different, with females bearing the tall fruiting stalks while male plants resemble small domes of orange algae on the ground, surrounded by a fine, green protonemal mat.
The British distribution of this species is almost entirely restricted to the Pennines in northern England, where it can be very locally abundant on reservoir margins and bare shale-clay soil on moorland.
The British distribution of this species is almost entirely restricted to the Pennines in northern England, where it can be very locally abundant on reservoir margins and bare shale-clay soil on moorland.
Physcomitrium sphaericum
Dale Dike Reservoir, South Yorkshire
A specialist of reservoir margins in the Pennines, this very small moss is easy to recognise when fruiting, as similar species such as Aphanorrhegma patens bears its spherical capsules on a very short seta. The leaves are also distinctive, being broad, untoothed, spreading and with a concave appearance due to the margins being inrolled.
Plagiomnium elatum
Malham Tarn SSSI, North Yorkshire
This widespread species of marshy, calcareous ground is described in the Bryophytes of Cumbria section of the site.
Plagiomnium affine
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
One of the commonest Plagiomiums in lowland Britain, this species is unusual in preferring drier habitats than other members of the genus. It occurs in damp grassland and woods but avoids permanenrtly wet sites such as marshes and flushes.
Apart from its distinctive habitat preference, P.affine can be recognised by its narrowly-decurrent leaf bases and long leaf cells (other similar species have short cells).
Apart from its distinctive habitat preference, P.affine can be recognised by its narrowly-decurrent leaf bases and long leaf cells (other similar species have short cells).
Philonotis calcarea
Malham Tarn SSSI, North Yorkshire
Orthotrichum striatum
Lower Bradfield, South Yorkshire
This species is described in the Bryophytes of Cumbria section of the site.
Orthotrichum stramineum
Lower Bradfield, South Yorkshire
Although widespread in Britain, this epiphytic Orthotrichum is not necessarily common anywhere, and certainly much less so than the ubiquitous O.affine.
A key character for identifying this species in the field is the constriction below the mouth of the caspules, and microscopically the capsules have immersed stomata.
A key character for identifying this species in the field is the constriction below the mouth of the caspules, and microscopically the capsules have immersed stomata.
Orthotrichum speciosum
Lower Bradfield, South Yorkshire
A rare Orthotrichum, this epiphyte can be recognised by its faintly striate capsules (look just below the mouth), which are deeply-furrowed when dry (some can appear smooth, so check several!). It is similar to the closely-related and extremely common O.affine, but differs in its longer seta and larger spores, as well as the capsule characters mentioned above.
Neckera crispa
Ingleton Falls, North Yorkshire
A common calcicole of damp limestone and other base-rich rocks, this species can be very abundant in sheltered, upland areas.
I've described the species in more detail in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
I've described the species in more detail in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Palustriella commutata
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
A typical and often abundant moss of dripping, base-rich rocks, this species is common in much of upland Britain. Its regularly-pinnate branching separates it from the closely-related P.falcata (below), which also has its stems and branches of a similar size.
Palustriella falcata
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
This common species is described with P.commutata above. Despite being similar in appearance, it favours different habitats to its close cousin, avoiding dripping crags and tending to be found in more open, permanently inundated sites.
Conardia compacta
Anston Stones Wood, South Yorkshire
This understated moss is rare nationally, but its distinctive habitat requirements (inland, at least) make it a fairly easy species to search for. Shaded niches on thin soil below limestone crags are a favoured site, as is bare soil at the mouth of caves, where competition from other plants is effectively eliminated. Coastal sites are similarly rocky and free from competition.
Conardia can be identified by its very slender, wispy habit, rather randomly-orientated leaf apices, and microscopically it can be seen to have rhizoids and gemmae on the back of the nerve and leaf tips, respectively.
Conardia can be identified by its very slender, wispy habit, rather randomly-orientated leaf apices, and microscopically it can be seen to have rhizoids and gemmae on the back of the nerve and leaf tips, respectively.
Campylium stellatum
Malham Tarn SSSI
This moss of calcareous flushes and damp grassland is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
The photo is blurry due to the incessant rain on the day I visited Malham!
The photo is blurry due to the incessant rain on the day I visited Malham!
Campyliadelphus elodes
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
A rather rare moss of swampy, calcareous ground, this delicate species forms patches of slender stems with very narrow, spear-shaped, widely-spreading leaves.
Although a fairly distinctive moss in the field, this species is easily confirmed microscopically by looking at the alar cells, which occur in clearly-defined, compact groups in C.elodes.
Although a fairly distinctive moss in the field, this species is easily confirmed microscopically by looking at the alar cells, which occur in clearly-defined, compact groups in C.elodes.
Scorpidium scorpioides
Malham Tarn NNR, North Yorkshire
Oxyrrhynchium hians
Anston Stones Wood, South Yorkshire
Text coming soon!
Orthothecium rufescens
Malham Tarn SSSI, North Yorkshire
Taxiphyllum wisgrillii
Anston Stones Wood, South Yorkshire
This easily-overlooked species forms glossy, pale green patches on stones, soil and tree bases in calcareous woodland. It is fairly easy to distinguish from Pseudotaxiphyllum, as the leaves are more abruptly tapered and the latter species never grows in base-rich habitats.
Campylophyllum calcareum
Anston Stones Wood, South Yorkshire
A rare moss of calcareous woodland, this little pleurocarp is easy to overlook, given its small size, altough it tends to form dense patches where it does occur.
C.calcareum can be identified in the field by its strongly recurved leaves - the most similar species, Camplyliadelphus chrysophyllus, lacks these and it also usually occurs in less shaded habitats.
C.calcareum can be identified in the field by its strongly recurved leaves - the most similar species, Camplyliadelphus chrysophyllus, lacks these and it also usually occurs in less shaded habitats.
Climacium dendroides
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
Isothecium myosuroides
Salt Lake Quarry, North Yorkshire
This moss is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Fontinalis squamosa
Abbey Brook, South Yorkshire
Text coming soon!
Tortella fasciculata
Abbey Brook, South Yorkshire
Text coming soon!
Seligeria recurvata
Abbey Brook, South Yorkshire
This species is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Heterocladium heteropterum
image coming soon
Abbey Brook, South Yorkshire
Abbey Brook, South Yorkshire
This species is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Schistidium apocarpum
image coming soon
Abbey Brook, South Yorkshire
Abbey Brook, South Yorkshire
This species is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Mnium hornum
Abbey Brook, South Yorkshire
This species is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Amphidium mougeotii
image coming soon
Abbey Brook, South Yorkshire
Abbey Brook, South Yorkshire
Text coming soon!
Orthotrichum tenellum
Staffordshire
Text coming soon!
Sphagnum teres
Staffordshire
This species is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Dicranoweisia cirrata
Staffordshire
This species is described in the Mosses of Derbyshire section of the site.
Schistostega pennata
Lud's Church, Staffordshire
Text coming soon!
Calypogeia sp
image coming soon!
Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Text coming soon!
Tomentypnum nitens
image coming soon!
Staffordshire
Staffordshire
In England, this is a very rare moss, occurring in base-rich mires and marshes. The Staffordshire site was discovered fairly recently, where Tomentypnum grows in one small area of marsh, alongside Scorpidium, at the base of an otherwise bland-looking moorland slope.
Tomentypnum, as the name suggests, can be identified by the tomentose stems, as well as its narrowly-triangular, pleated leaves - in many ways it resembles a Homalothecium species growing in a marsh.
Tomentypnum, as the name suggests, can be identified by the tomentose stems, as well as its narrowly-triangular, pleated leaves - in many ways it resembles a Homalothecium species growing in a marsh.
Hamatocaulis vernicosus
image coming soon!
Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Text coming soon!