moss help please

diggleken · #1 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 05:10 PM

this gorgeous beauty was in/around a high level pond in the pennines, peaty substrate - any help out there to ID please?
Type of sphagnum?
Its like a field of tulips!

thanks a lot
Ken

JennyS · #2 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 05:42 PM

Hi Ken - its a Polytrichum and could be P. juniperinum - there are quite a few fairly similar ones though so that's only a 'possibly'

oxycera · #3 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 07:35 PM

Definitely a Polytrichum - I've photographed a few myself recently; maybe P.piliferum, but as Jenny says, there are a few similar ones.

Lancashire Lad · #4 (**permalink**) 19-03-2009, 07:46 PM

Hi Ken,

It definitely looks like the moss that was ID'd as Polythrichum piliferum, in a photo I recently sent in (primarily for a Lichen ID, but had moss in the frame as well).

Regards
Mike.

diggleken · #5 (**permalink**) 20-03-2009, 09:16 AM

Thanks everyone - its looking like polytrichum piliferum by consensus and that looks right, but I now have British Bryological Society added to favourites so I will make sure as far as I can via that route too.
Isnt it a stunner?
Cheers all

Ken

JennyS · #6 (**permalink**) 20-03-2009, 09:56 AM

Hi again Ken,
Its just a thought, but the rosettes in your photograph look too orange-coloured for P. piliferum ....

Polytrichum piliferum:
http://hosting.sleath.co.uk/bbs/acco...iferum_MPT.pdf

David Fenwick has a photograph of P. juniperum on his site that shows the oranger colour better than the BBS photo (lower link) does....

Polytrichum juniperum:
http://aphotoflora.com/DevonandCornw...rinum02-06.jpg

http://hosting.sleath.co.uk/bbs/acco...rinum_DMPT.pdf

JennyS · #7 (**permalink**) 20-03-2009, 10:03 AM

I've just re-read your habitat info - 'in and around a high level pond' and going by the BBS notes on P. juniperum Polytrichum strictum is a contender .....

Polytrichum strictum:
http://hosting.sleath.co.uk/bbs/acco...rictum_MPT.pdf

I knew there was a reason I decided to steer clear of mosses at the moment ..

stigofthedump · #8 (**permalink**) 20-03-2009, 11:27 AM

The joys of Polytrichum..........

I go with the consensus.

Vince

diggleken · #9 (**permalink**) 21-03-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JennyS

I knew there was a reason I decided to steer clear of mosses at the moment ..

You could have warned me!
Thanks a lot everyone, partic Jenny - a lot of trouble gone to - I haven't forgotten this thread- I've been trying to sort it out now you have given me pointers.
Unfortunately its taking quite some time, so many different sites to view and check.
For what its worth, the juries still out, but its clearly polytrichum spp as you have all said, with brown leaf tips, but I need a bit more time when I get home - I have some other pics of it to view - I'll resolve by monday.

Cheers
Ken

diggleken · #10 (**permalink**) 22-03-2009, 11:33 AM

Well here I am again!
Cant be 100%, but capsule structure and antheridia colour seems best for Polytrichum juniperinum I think.
There are some variations to the colour of the antheridia - you can just see that in the pic, slight orange and darker ruddiness are both there.
Still open to any other thoughts - especially if anyone has a definitive what to look for in the different Polytrichums - I will return to the site to check again.

Its a great place anyway, only 30 mins walk from me!
Thanks again everyone.
Ken