Any moss experts about??

[the naturelover]

Hi I was on a fungi forray today and spotted this on an old decayed tree trunk. My first thought was a micro fungus but, on looking closer I THINK it is the sexual parts of the moss. I.E. the equivalent to the stigma/stamens of a flower.
This is what first caught my eye. lots of very fine transparrent fillaments about 1 and a half inches long protruding from the moss.

on closer inspection I saw this. The longer fillaments had a cross at the tip. Then i noticed some shorter fillaments amongst them which terminated in a bulbous blob.

As you can imagine it was a nightmare trying to photograph such a small subject in a dark forrest so I brought a sample home. this is a close up of the tips.

So my question is am I right in assuming this is part of the moss or, have I just wasted 5 hours and wrenched my back for nothing??!!
Thanks for any information at all.
regards tn.

[Dorts]

Lophocolea heterophilla looks about right. Quite common on old tree stumps.
Very helpfull close-up.
Dorts.

[amydenness]

Its a liverwort. On the basis of what you refer to as filaments it is possibly Lophocolea heterophylla or Lophocolea bidentata but without a clear close up picture of the leaves I can't tell. L.bidentata have bilobed leaves all the way up the stem whereas L.heterophylla have bilobed leaves on the lower stem and entire leaves on the upper stem (these can be seen clearly with a 20x hand lens). The filaments you refer to are the male (the one with the black bulbous tip) and female (the one with the cross at the tip) reproductive organs of the liverwort. The Lophocolea species are aromatic too!

[the naturelover]

You have done it again Dorts.
I have googled it although they spell it with a "y" (Lophocolea heterophYlla) However it has given me all the answers and even some better pics than mine.
As always my thanks
regards tn.

[the naturelover]

Sorry Amydenness i did not intend to be rude. did not see you're post till after I had replied to Dorts. My thanks also to you for the very useful info.
regards tn.

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by the naturelover

although they spell it with a "y" (Lophocolea heterophYlla)
regards tn.

Spelling has never been my strong point.
Dorts.

[the naturelover]

Who cares about the odd spelling mistake with you're extensive expertise. I certainly don't. I am truly grateful for all the help you give me.
regards tn.