Identifying moss in winter?

Dragonyka · #1 (**permalink**) 02-02-2011, 05:57 PM

Hi,

Is it possible to identify moss in the winter?

I was walking with my daughter to an area where she had seen a kingfisher when out playing with her friends. Walking back through some decidedly 'squishy' ground I noticed that there was a lot of moss. Is it possible to decide at this time of year what sort of moss it is? Can anyone point me to a website which could help me to figure out what sort of moss it is?

Thanks

Nicola

stigofthedump · #2 (**permalink**) 02-02-2011, 06:11 PM

Hi Dragonyka. You can identify many mosses in winter, some however can prove very difficult when not in or having a "Fruiting" reproductive cycle.

Tale a look at the British Bryological Society web site.

Regards

Vince

Dragonyka · #3 (**permalink**) 02-02-2011, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stigofthedump

Hi Dragonyka. You can identify many mosses in winter, some however can prove very difficult when not in or having a "Fruiting" reproductive cycle.

Tale a look at the British Bryological Society web site.

Regards

Vince

Thanks. I'll have a look.

I need to go back out and get a better look at the moss so I can have a shot at working out what it is.

Dorts · #4 (**permalink**) 03-02-2011, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dragonyka

Hi,

I was walking with my daughter to an area where she had seen a kingfisher when out playing with her friends. Walking back through some decidedly 'squishy' ground I noticed that there was a lot of moss. Is it possible to decide at this time of year what sort of moss it is?
Thanks
Nicola

Difficult to say what moss it may have been but you could start by looking at Sphagnum Mosses, they love 'squishy' ground.
Dorts.

thunder · #5 (**permalink**) 03-02-2011, 08:38 PM

Winter is often the best time of year for identifying mosses, when they are nice and damp. In the summer, they tend to dry up and become very difficult.

henrya

Dragonyka · #6 (**permalink**) 03-02-2011, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorts

Difficult to say what moss it may have been but you could start by looking at Sphagnum Mosses, they love 'squishy' ground.
Dorts.

I did wonder if it might be one of them (I didn't realise there were so many!). I live near to several peat/mossland areas. Haven't had chance to go back yet for a better look, but I will do this weekend.