moss n liverwort help!

[diggleken]

Hi, any help out there for these two please - both in upland acidic area, in a very damp and shaded mossy birchwood, the liverwort on gritstone in there.
Looks a bit like hair moss, but not quite right, maybe campylopus pyriformis? But I'm no expert.

Liverwort, possibly trichocolea tomentella?

Grateful for any advice/steer.
Cheers
Ken

[Dorts]

Ken. difficult to get scale. I initially thought it was the common Polytrichum commune, but you would know that species? Looks a bit like Amphidium mougeotii, but wrong habitat. My last thought is Breutelia chrysocoma. Try those. A pic of the whole plant would perhaps help, as I too am no expert.
I agree it doesn't look right for Campylopus pyriformis.

Trichocolea tomentella, (Handsome Woollywort), looks good for the Liverwort.
http://www.bbsfieldguide.org.uk/cont...lea-tomentella
Dorts.

[stigofthedump]

Hi Ken.

Polytrichum is the only thing that I can think of for your moss I'm afraid.
Do you have the moss to hand? If so pull a few leaves off, in a downward direction. Check the base of them for a colourless 'extension' of the leaf, looking almost like a bit of skin.... Its a good pointer to Polytrichum and their allies. Might help you narrow it down a little.



Vince

[diggleken]

Originally Posted by stigofthedump

Hi Ken.

Polytrichum is the only thing that I can think of for your moss I'm afraid.
Do you have the moss to hand? If so pull a few leaves off, in a downward direction. Check the base of them for a colourless 'extension' of the leaf, looking almost like a bit of skin.... Its a good pointer to Polytrichum and their allies. Might help you narrow it down a little.

Vince

Thanks both, most helpful. Great link Dorts, didnt have that! Ta muchly.
Vince, it does seem to be Polytrichum spp, it just seemed smaller and a bit different than Commune, so was doubting myself.
I'm familiar with Piliferum and Juniperinum, two of my favourites and its clearly not those, I suspect its P. formosum, just that bit different in size than Commune.
Watson has it as so similar you need to look at leaf cells unless with capsules when its easier.
So, brill, thanks for help and steer.
Cheers
Ken