Moss for ID

agrumpycow · #1 (**permalink**) 14-02-2010, 09:08 PM

Can anyone put a name to this moss for me please. Growing on an old tree stump (oak I think) at Pamber Forest near Basingstoke, Hampshire. Thanks in advance

stigofthedump · #2 (**permalink**) 15-02-2010, 06:36 PM

Hi Claire.

Can you give a idea of size. My gut feeling is Campylopus sp. (a Fresh introflexus would be my first suggestion)
Hopefully another member will be able to put up another suggestion as I have looked and looked and my little brain just keeps telling me Campylopus, sure you now how it is----cant see the woods for the trees!

Vince.

agrumpycow · #3 (**permalink**) 15-02-2010, 07:21 PM

Size, yes, sorry, should have mentioned that, thought I would have learnt by now

Each 'tuft' was about 10mm high and was a clump of about 12 x 4 cm. It seemed quite prolific in the area.

RobSutton · #4 (**permalink**) 15-02-2010, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stigofthedump

Hi Claire.

Can you give a idea of size. My gut feeling is Campylopus sp. (a Fresh introflexus would be my first suggestion)
Hopefully another member will be able to put up another suggestion as I have looked and looked and my little brain just keeps telling me Campylopus, sure you now how it is----cant see the woods for the trees!

Vince.

The other one I thought of as a possibility was Dicranum scoparium.

stigofthedump · #5 (**permalink**) 15-02-2010, 08:10 PM

Rob I did think of that, Honestly

) I have a sample here and will re-hydrate it and have a look. Trouble is that Dicranum tend to have falco-secund leaves,
I'm not particularly happy with my suggestion...have that niggling feeling that I'm off the mark here.

Always nice to have someone along for the ride though!!

Have a look here and see if you can move this on any further.

BLWG Verspreidingsatlas mossen

Vince

RobSutton · #6 (**permalink**) 15-02-2010, 08:25 PM

I think you are right, given it's location Campylopus is perhaps the more likely D.scoparium is much more of a northern and western species. I do find small Dicranum specimens and Campylopus difficult to distinguish even in hand.

agrumpycow · #7 (**permalink**) 16-02-2010, 05:00 PM

Thanks guys, as always I'm amazed at your knowledge, I wouldn't know where to start!

RobSutton · #8 (**permalink**) 16-02-2010, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agrumpycow

Thanks guys, as always I'm amazed at your knowledge, I wouldn't know where to start!

The problem I have with mosses is that I know the ones I get in my area and one or two other places I know but there's a lot more than occur in places I'm not familiar with so I'm rarely anything like 100% certain. Without being able to see it for real it's always going to be "quite likely" or "perhaps" I'm afraid so don't take these ideas as me being totally sure.