tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78018248427575766472024-02-06T22:06:56.603-05:00Moss NotesThoughts on mosses and liverworts in the New England area.Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-43138849927573750682020-12-05T09:59:00.001-05:002020-12-05T09:59:35.996-05:00Instagram<p> As I find this platform cumbersome to work with, I invite you to follow my Instagram account at ne_mosses I will be posting photos of mosses nearby (for me, western Mass) as well as excerpts from my upcoming book Ecological Guide to Mosses of New England. Hope to see you there! Sue</p>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-43128968154139814442019-11-27T07:22:00.000-05:002019-11-27T07:27:36.512-05:00Looking for Gold....Goblins Gold<style type="text/css">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span>When you find yourself looking deep under a ledge where the light is dim, or way in a deep dark recess under a root, or even in the dim light of an old stone foundation under a barn, that’s the time to be looking for gold.....Goblin’s Gold.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;">Reaching in, you grab a handful of the shiny stuff, but when you open your hand there’s nothing there! You might just have found <i>Schistostega pennata</i>. A tiny delicate moss that can grow in the darkest of holes on soil. The shiny stuff you see is the persistent luminous protonema from which it arises. Sometimes you might find yourself holding a fragile, tiny, pale-green, fern-like moss which is the sterile form and most often seen. It shrivels quite quickly when removed from the dark, moist soil where you found it. If you are lucky enough to find capsules, you’ll see that they are ovoid, erect and have no peristome, or teeth, around the mouth.</span></div>
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-6095902572007557012015-03-23T20:32:00.000-04:002015-03-23T20:32:18.959-04:00Bryophyte course at Eagle HillThis June I will be coteaching a beginners bryophyte course with Jerry Jenkins at Eagle Hill in Maine.<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white;">For Information on this course: </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><a href="http://www.eaglehill.us/programs/nhs/seminar-flyer-pdfs/2015Mosses_JenkinsWilliams.pdf" style="background-color: white; color: #1155cc; font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px;" target="_blank">http://www.eaglehill.us/<wbr></wbr>programs/nhs/seminar-flyer-<wbr></wbr>pdfs/2015Mosses_<wbr></wbr>JenkinsWilliams.pdf</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;">For general program information, go to <a href="http://www.eaglehill.us/programs/nhs/natural-history-seminars.shtml" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.eaglehill.us/<wbr></wbr>seminars</a><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: small;">For more information, contact Marilyn Mayer: <a href="mailto:marilyn@eaglehill.us" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #094ee5;">marilyn@eaglehill.us</span></a> or</span><span style="font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"> </span><a href="tel:207-546-2821" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank" value="+12075462821">207-546-2821</a></span></div>
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Hope to see you there!<br />
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-2794588260920823302015-03-21T13:18:00.000-04:002015-03-21T13:18:15.778-04:00Moss Word of the Day: JULACEOUSJOO-LAY-SHUS<br />
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What a great word!<br />
But what does it mean in reference to mosses?<br />
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It means that the branch is smoothly cylindric, the leaves so closely overlapping that it resembles a caterpillar or catkin.<br />
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Some common mosses that have julaceous branches are....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMsrLZX1Qvy9EFWg1beKLWY4zRm9R-Qm5iEC50uraboO8oBEWE8Y7K_LVgkAa5LBfM6ELTvdc4OITxHF2_6RoQfLze2isv1K-rgDJZ2Vt5N8pS8SJHK3XIFWrSvnO1yiojGIYkz3jnFg/s1600/Myurella+sib+DQ1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirMsrLZX1Qvy9EFWg1beKLWY4zRm9R-Qm5iEC50uraboO8oBEWE8Y7K_LVgkAa5LBfM6ELTvdc4OITxHF2_6RoQfLze2isv1K-rgDJZ2Vt5N8pS8SJHK3XIFWrSvnO1yiojGIYkz3jnFg/s1600/Myurella+sib+DQ1.JPG" height="300" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Myurella sibirica</i></td></tr>
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This moss is not as julaceous as it's relative <i>Myurella julacea</i>.<br />
Both are very tiny little mosses that like to grow in rock crevices on thin soil or mixed with other mosses on basic or calcareous rock.<br />
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Medium sized mosses would include <i>Thelia asprella</i> & <i>T. hirtella, </i>both species like to grow on tree bases in oak-hickory woods, and also <i>Entodon seductrix </i>which is found on limy rocks, soil and tree bases.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXDIMMFs9GHTPWHTILWCF6nDMjbI5FexSKFSiozGPfjsPqKOK4sYsup3lJpOxsaBLSGdGV8CnWEmaMWI1Uc4CvSus_egkNlxcgDKwbJGsMb0niCwJHtTyBaZ4pXvvNU8tKt2PPUqT48M/s1600/thelia+hirtella.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLXDIMMFs9GHTPWHTILWCF6nDMjbI5FexSKFSiozGPfjsPqKOK4sYsup3lJpOxsaBLSGdGV8CnWEmaMWI1Uc4CvSus_egkNlxcgDKwbJGsMb0niCwJHtTyBaZ4pXvvNU8tKt2PPUqT48M/s1600/thelia+hirtella.JPG" height="251" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Thelia hirtella</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">close up of <i>Thelia asprella </i><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(photo by Jerry Jenkins)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZs7_gXm1t2YzkV0bL2BOViNHJuJePrLtqtbaZGfnzA1izaVtYpT5ETQBIlgSXJj1QiY4b3J0vxNA-jLU73GVSFwexRCvHtu5vk4ac-se7XVIJWjOQ7-fqOXkGBu9aAvxns_IByB6PD0o/s1600/Ent+sed+01+jj.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZs7_gXm1t2YzkV0bL2BOViNHJuJePrLtqtbaZGfnzA1izaVtYpT5ETQBIlgSXJj1QiY4b3J0vxNA-jLU73GVSFwexRCvHtu5vk4ac-se7XVIJWjOQ7-fqOXkGBu9aAvxns_IByB6PD0o/s1600/Ent+sed+01+jj.tif" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Entodon seductrix</i><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(photo by Jerry Jenkins)</span></td></tr>
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One of our largest julaceous mosses is <i>Bryoandersonia illecebra</i> which is very worm-like when new shoots first appear in the spring. It grows on the ground.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Bryoandersonia illecebra</i> in spring<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(photo by Jerry Jenkins)</span></td></tr>
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<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-34199871149801735842013-03-10T11:06:00.001-04:002013-03-10T11:06:52.570-04:00a march day interludeit's a beautiful sunny day today so i went for a little hike and during that hike i was looking at the mosses on tree trunks as there's still so much snow on the ground.<br />
i was thinking about<i> ulota crispa</i> and <i>orthotrichum</i> and how, when i first started mosses, i didn't know the difference between the two.<br />
so i got out my camera and tried to get some shots from far away to close up of the two.<br />
both were growing on the same big maple tree in my yard.<br />
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on a dry day, they are very easy to tell apart!<br />
<i>ulota crispa</i> (like its name) has very 'crisped' and curly leaves when it's dry.<br />
<i>orthotrichum</i>, on the other hand, has leaves that are straight and hug the stem.<br />
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so, on your next hike in the woods or on trees in your yard, see if you can find both species!Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-64674155381590535962013-03-06T21:52:00.001-05:002013-03-06T21:52:42.064-05:00The Mnium Group<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mniums used to be all lumped together in one genus - Mnium...<br />
then in 1968 T.J. Koponen separated them into different groups:<br />
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1) Leaf margin entire (or obscurely toothed): <i><span style="color: red;">Pseudobryum</span>, <span style="color: red;">Cyrtomnium</span> &<span style="color: red;"> Rhizomnium</span></i><br />
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2) Leaf margins with single teeth: <i><span style="color: red;">Plagiomnium</span></i><br />
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3) Leaf margins with double teeth: <i><span style="color: red;">Mnium</span></i><br />
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Let's take a look at the first group:<br />
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Rhizomniums are fairly common in our area, especially <i>R. punctatum</i> and <i>R. appalachianum</i><br />
Both species have leaves that have a strong border of long cells with interior cells that are roundish.<br />
<i>R. punctatum</i> is much smaller than <i>R. appalachianum</i> and i find it most often on rocks in wet areas whereas<i> R. appalachianum</i> grows in wet, swampy soil.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Rhizomnium punctatum</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2roXqVVAEQqQlHB7h28e_YrKxmQqKIIf_8sXqel2SKACxQgn8MyFDQXd0GsqV7obXIaylZvZC8hyEIZbYKDjIj2f69e55CGujP25NPUk185achEmw2_SPCpV0lb3G-TFdT1mZSmC4GE/s1600/R.+punct+1.TIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ2roXqVVAEQqQlHB7h28e_YrKxmQqKIIf_8sXqel2SKACxQgn8MyFDQXd0GsqV7obXIaylZvZC8hyEIZbYKDjIj2f69e55CGujP25NPUk185achEmw2_SPCpV0lb3G-TFdT1mZSmC4GE/s320/R.+punct+1.TIF" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">R. punctatum - note the smooth stems<br /><br /><i>Rhizomnium punctatum</i> also has no tomentum or brownish hairs growing up the stem; only at the base.<br /><br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8WSp4UpfPEtTT8Og7gDLBWQmGrxWuyg074U_11kYmr5SXHny0AOk6A6vJtXJecZrNURUQNzUkTwzDj2vhcGNk6zMfZGH6CqKSuxu3O956Q1O32RQ2zdGhApDOwccRCmwYFAKFOJiEH0/s1600/DSCN1559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8WSp4UpfPEtTT8Og7gDLBWQmGrxWuyg074U_11kYmr5SXHny0AOk6A6vJtXJecZrNURUQNzUkTwzDj2vhcGNk6zMfZGH6CqKSuxu3O956Q1O32RQ2zdGhApDOwccRCmwYFAKFOJiEH0/s640/DSCN1559.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">a nice clump of <i>Rhizomnium appalachianum</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUOpOxavMuabox4JX5GltccZSHH7z5ljwLRlsAfGaMLLKukog7BH0quJpEE9olliqIi_pAVjIso2pWMlrqGPtotuH6RXBc1394oQRxVlUwh6QlY_uaOty-DplPe-BKdFYjkRdtNpimqo/s1600/R.+App+scan1.TIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHUOpOxavMuabox4JX5GltccZSHH7z5ljwLRlsAfGaMLLKukog7BH0quJpEE9olliqIi_pAVjIso2pWMlrqGPtotuH6RXBc1394oQRxVlUwh6QlY_uaOty-DplPe-BKdFYjkRdtNpimqo/s640/R.+App+scan1.TIF" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">a scan of <i>R. appalachianum</i>. notice how the stem is covered with brown 'stuff' covering the stem.</span></td></tr>
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<i>Pseudobryum cinclidiodes</i> is very much like <i>Rhizomnium appalachianum</i>. It is similar size-wise (a BIG moss) as well as liking the same type of wet places in the woods. It's leaves are a little more oblong, and if you look really closely it actually has really short, blunt teeth. Also, the leaf border is much weaker. If you look at it under the microscope, its cells are much more elongated and are in rows that angle away from the costa. The first time i saw this, i just couldn't figure it out...it was a mnium with bryum cells!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDoP9ue8xyK-_bYynWHK5GlONcsZ1D4ntgWR8MI4ZLoracMBWQGo0C0O1lBQ_aKXfNFFGsuepe_rMybJQDkJHNycCzCi7fMggotSjGN5Tot11NLyUlsuC4NDQBt0MhNd2L8HMxPKd-Ec/s1600/dscn1554.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDoP9ue8xyK-_bYynWHK5GlONcsZ1D4ntgWR8MI4ZLoracMBWQGo0C0O1lBQ_aKXfNFFGsuepe_rMybJQDkJHNycCzCi7fMggotSjGN5Tot11NLyUlsuC4NDQBt0MhNd2L8HMxPKd-Ec/s640/dscn1554.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Pseudobryum cinclidiodes</i>, compare the leaf shape to <i>R. appalachianum</i></span></td></tr>
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The last moss of this group is Cyrtomnium hymenophylloides...a rare moss of northern areas growing on limy ledges. it's quite small, a beautiful blue green with round leaves basically in two rows.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzs1XBhrjZKJqn3NeKsfrLJe0pD5u_PN6RDRGaTT4M86_5jfK5C6Q3gFzJfhyH_TBzcMP0fNy36JVtA2RKl3sSNZOWSxCdD2HReO722HzaZi-A9YG8gcKDzScsG8Cc4K7fzWWUDqEoJA/s1600/cyrtomnium.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzs1XBhrjZKJqn3NeKsfrLJe0pD5u_PN6RDRGaTT4M86_5jfK5C6Q3gFzJfhyH_TBzcMP0fNy36JVtA2RKl3sSNZOWSxCdD2HReO722HzaZi-A9YG8gcKDzScsG8Cc4K7fzWWUDqEoJA/s400/cyrtomnium.bmp" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Cyrtomnium hymenophylloides</span></i></td></tr>
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<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-47061077308760238472013-01-16T12:58:00.001-05:002013-01-16T12:58:23.551-05:00More on Bryums & Mniums<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Bryums & Mniums are very similar to each other at first glance...one usually notes that they both have capsules that are 'droopy' and they both have leaves that are bordered with long cells with shorter cells in the middle. Both are acrocarps with the capsules coming out of the tip of the plant and not on a side branch.<br />
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Let's start with the differences: although both groups have drooping capsules, Bryums have capsules with distinct 'necks':<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqpcI5Kv_aN1bXdhA900trsD5YAldXzJ4pBjEQjS4iCEjxtj49n7AZvqSzUvLS1ywW2cifcYeU4KP2bgb7l85m9hxL5tZD3qIMX3nucoXNQ7-iUVEKKUlQksTV-wO-q5diPg97jTAnYI/s1600/bryum+caes.caps.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPqpcI5Kv_aN1bXdhA900trsD5YAldXzJ4pBjEQjS4iCEjxtj49n7AZvqSzUvLS1ywW2cifcYeU4KP2bgb7l85m9hxL5tZD3qIMX3nucoXNQ7-iUVEKKUlQksTV-wO-q5diPg97jTAnYI/s200/bryum+caes.caps.BMP" width="106" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Bryum caespiticium</i> capsule<br />the neck is the top smaller 'bulge' before the stem.<br /></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4jaO2KZG84ObCpxXVCoXvK5F7yLJiJHJXkKxmcru_hcO1y677elogi29wvOPvnZQGf8boIkRLVWnZYerikHew5VOyPxDnj-owXFqL-KrIbhyphenhyphenA5JilJ_hbviOpsi4KjhPyPDK6v0BeB0/s1600/Plagiomnium+capsule+-+no+mm.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB4jaO2KZG84ObCpxXVCoXvK5F7yLJiJHJXkKxmcru_hcO1y677elogi29wvOPvnZQGf8boIkRLVWnZYerikHew5VOyPxDnj-owXFqL-KrIbhyphenhyphenA5JilJ_hbviOpsi4KjhPyPDK6v0BeB0/s200/Plagiomnium+capsule+-+no+mm.BMP" width="146" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-size: small;"><i style="font-size: 13px;">Plagiomnium cuspidatum</i><span style="font-size: 13px;"> capsule (with calyptra)</span><br /><span style="font-size: 13px;">note that although the capsule is drooping, there is no 'neck' to it</span></span></td></tr>
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Bryum leaves tend to be more lanceolate, with no or few teeth and often end in a sharp needle tip:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7Cjavs9GVeF1Eq6YCBC3sjf-KGcnrm60_vZ08kmh8SmA_41aCrNx9IRVOd3mk1tvTfUH5n9cJ6tY9ppiunFOLmARUOkewj6Rdncqo9IE7FsWKQTKPuoAS2ttWU4fGNbPunBgQCBLcMI/s1600/bryum+caes.leaf.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7Cjavs9GVeF1Eq6YCBC3sjf-KGcnrm60_vZ08kmh8SmA_41aCrNx9IRVOd3mk1tvTfUH5n9cJ6tY9ppiunFOLmARUOkewj6Rdncqo9IE7FsWKQTKPuoAS2ttWU4fGNbPunBgQCBLcMI/s320/bryum+caes.leaf.BMP" width="175" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Bryum caespiticium</i> leaf</span></td></tr>
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<br />Mnium leaves tend to be large-ish, rounded, oblong, elliptical or obovate and often have obvious teeth (excepting the Rhizomnium group, which we'll talk about later).<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvO2px_iKidS73GeT7HSRDn09IcfPfeJeSVH9zXuQ937KyPXJDMVEYvXKOb-j3JdKVlXME3vdhhZZu3eDfmvAI00SCvIBl7QTxM_ofwIAgc4t42PiRHILPpvEAsWguEpgyakojItxpzw/s1600/img138.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvO2px_iKidS73GeT7HSRDn09IcfPfeJeSVH9zXuQ937KyPXJDMVEYvXKOb-j3JdKVlXME3vdhhZZu3eDfmvAI00SCvIBl7QTxM_ofwIAgc4t42PiRHILPpvEAsWguEpgyakojItxpzw/s320/img138.bmp" width="151" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Mnium spinulosum</i> leaf</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt5gkRp63HYmsv62RNKyRk4GDZuINO3pdOCOUrhPWrHiOa1Ne8o_gfeDE2vJvsR6ijgVOvStMrDTWrMMdj2bzrDvM3HzbAmwTnzJHNXhjxJIEdggf7aa9tzaVE1SYADLOVf3iaP9tyoQ/s1600/leaf.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOt5gkRp63HYmsv62RNKyRk4GDZuINO3pdOCOUrhPWrHiOa1Ne8o_gfeDE2vJvsR6ijgVOvStMrDTWrMMdj2bzrDvM3HzbAmwTnzJHNXhjxJIEdggf7aa9tzaVE1SYADLOVf3iaP9tyoQ/s320/leaf.bmp" width="141" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Plagiomnium ciliare</i> leaf</span></td></tr>
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Although both groups have leaves that are bordered with long cells, the border is usually quite strong in the Mniums and weaker in Bryums. The interior cells are also different, with Mnium cells being generally round or hexagonal and Bryums having long rectangular or diamond-shaped (rhomboidal) cells.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdOs6lFzJyqiPEiy_jR6hK30-99yu8qaRNXTXqh7CQo1LJTBaxVuVNMoedbUaNA8QGxjU27Z5eKohsP6XQyLzTr0Lg2jcrtwKEzdgrNGexktnfxMrT9KqL-QVrdlzUtjnGyLZ4WPU6o8/s1600/img081.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLdOs6lFzJyqiPEiy_jR6hK30-99yu8qaRNXTXqh7CQo1LJTBaxVuVNMoedbUaNA8QGxjU27Z5eKohsP6XQyLzTr0Lg2jcrtwKEzdgrNGexktnfxMrT9KqL-QVrdlzUtjnGyLZ4WPU6o8/s200/img081.bmp" width="143" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This drawing is a section from the edge of <i>Plagiomnium ciliare</i>,<br />note the rounded interior cells bordered by several rows of long cells<br />and the long, multicellular teeth</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rgejEt0Q0Xzik2CtD4mh6TN6aAvSKZItC46k7cQfuGNNMwNlw-BjN79Cdmn0lG5oPV2wEtVs90HEqoB1iGbcQThoyqkjb1OOEEK1Izs1OdqXfK-nUavz0RNgifVxnw2h-VxUJ4NwCPA/s1600/rhodobryum+cells.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6rgejEt0Q0Xzik2CtD4mh6TN6aAvSKZItC46k7cQfuGNNMwNlw-BjN79Cdmn0lG5oPV2wEtVs90HEqoB1iGbcQThoyqkjb1OOEEK1Izs1OdqXfK-nUavz0RNgifVxnw2h-VxUJ4NwCPA/s200/rhodobryum+cells.BMP" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Interior rhomboidal cells from <i>Rhodobryum ontariense</i></span></td></tr>
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So, now you know how to tell a Bryum from a Mnium...</div>
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next post we'll talk about the main groups of Mnium: <span style="color: #cc0000;">Rhizomnium, Plagiomnium & Mnium</span></div>
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-72702647459073933462013-01-13T09:31:00.001-05:002013-01-13T09:31:56.591-05:00Mniums, Bryums & other wide-leaved ground mossesThere are a group of mosses that grow on the ground in especially shady places...they have wide leaves which have short to long teeth.<br />
below is a field key to some of our common wide-leaved mosses:<br />
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and if you have a dissecting and/or compound microscope, here are some of the microscopic features:<br />
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over the next few posts, i'll go into a little more detail some of the species...such as the differences between Mniums & Bryums..and how the Mnium family is split into three distinct groups: Rhizomnium, Plagiomnium and Mnium.Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-25404058288299061802013-01-05T11:11:00.003-05:002013-01-05T11:11:28.302-05:00Asexual Reproduction/Vegetative Propagation Mosses & Liverworts can reproduce by other means than spores. The asexual strategy is much faster and less costly than sexual reproduction and can enable bryos to colonize an area quickly which becomes very important in unstable environments.<br />
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There are three basic methods bryos use in vegetative propagation:<span style="color: #6aa84f;"> <b>Fragmentation</b></span>, <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Gemmae</span></b> & <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Propagules</span>.</b><br />
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<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Fragmentation</span></b> is exactly what it sounds like...parts of the plant, usually pieces of or whole leaves, break off and form new plants. Some species have taken this further and developed 'break zones' in their leaves which makes them extremely fragile and with the lightest touch, will break off. These fragments, on finding a suitable substrate, will then develop into protonema (that thread-like stage that looks like aglae) which then develops into the leafy shoots. Two examples are <i>Dicranum viride</i> and H<i>aplohymenium triste:</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6bRhjzj6HkvXPTsFOJPo_CiEcYM-oUtFU-1Hfo3FYMENHMDQiMbgkdtfE838DaRa0MzVHYJ4VCSTOoLga1-5qZjvEWzACh-EPriHXIXBj6bGxTvcMx5zCtv4hUXICZ5_fMXZeZ83ThM/s1600/Dicranum+viride+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim6bRhjzj6HkvXPTsFOJPo_CiEcYM-oUtFU-1Hfo3FYMENHMDQiMbgkdtfE838DaRa0MzVHYJ4VCSTOoLga1-5qZjvEWzACh-EPriHXIXBj6bGxTvcMx5zCtv4hUXICZ5_fMXZeZ83ThM/s320/Dicranum+viride+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dicranum viride </i>(note all the broken leaf tips)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Kk_huAoPJ571twKlq8z311pswugxPPBKaeK2ETJZ630F71koNUOYUW8RzC5_umQfMULZFqUCE37MWbQddOnji_h7ezjbCEWWHVIBxYdz7BIOQPShTSE8JA8GRe96LiJP9O7RjfwJbdY/s1600/D.+viride+branch+no+mm.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Kk_huAoPJ571twKlq8z311pswugxPPBKaeK2ETJZ630F71koNUOYUW8RzC5_umQfMULZFqUCE37MWbQddOnji_h7ezjbCEWWHVIBxYdz7BIOQPShTSE8JA8GRe96LiJP9O7RjfwJbdY/s320/D.+viride+branch+no+mm.BMP" width="182" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One shoot of <i>D. viride</i> showing leaf tips</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju53WWbZsufs-4AyQSGumCqLZV6GuK2GKPj7jMFXxuRXx3vwHi7DvD0e1dwvhR2iwoBUwGmHhj3BSquYS9G1tvzEJ8W6FK98iQzN0cbnuRJE5bKP4U61C5zlb006gdIQ5nSy-z7cS2Ymk/s1600/D.+viride+leaf+no+mm.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju53WWbZsufs-4AyQSGumCqLZV6GuK2GKPj7jMFXxuRXx3vwHi7DvD0e1dwvhR2iwoBUwGmHhj3BSquYS9G1tvzEJ8W6FK98iQzN0cbnuRJE5bKP4U61C5zlb006gdIQ5nSy-z7cS2Ymk/s320/D.+viride+leaf+no+mm.BMP" width="278" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dicranum viride</i> leaf</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirALtMVy3VJDpsug4_bhMFYUPZ6FjKZieXwhiDfQG5cU6yWGEX3jdl_oDQJKamKVHl7N6MbEEvRgUVOL7zXh1vjF8mIHfCK3zE2QUOonYXvGJMS3fvZtpgJDjtEm5JudzLdddR7ljW7Ek/s1600/Hap.+hym+leaf.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirALtMVy3VJDpsug4_bhMFYUPZ6FjKZieXwhiDfQG5cU6yWGEX3jdl_oDQJKamKVHl7N6MbEEvRgUVOL7zXh1vjF8mIHfCK3zE2QUOonYXvGJMS3fvZtpgJDjtEm5JudzLdddR7ljW7Ek/s200/Hap.+hym+leaf.BMP" width="166" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Haplohymenium triste</i> leaf showing 'break zone'</span></td></tr>
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The production of <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Gemmae</span></b> and <b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Propagules</span></b> take this a step further. Now the plant is putting slightly more energy into the production of structures specifically designed to grow either into protonema or directly into a leafy shoot. <div>
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<div>
Gemmae are structures, one to many celled, that are basically undifferentiated...they have no growing tip and will form protonema before growing into a plant. Many bryophytes have gemmae...the liverworts are especially fond of them. they can be one-celled round structures, 2-celled ovals, multicellular worm-like things, or stellate and they're often colored orange or red (especially in the Lophozias).</div>
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<div>
Blaisia pusilla, which grows in a very unstable habitat of open, moist soil..along ditches, etc, has two different gemmae. It produces scale-like gemmae on the ends of the thallus lobes shown below:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhaA6i81U1gXIY_foKLCCIDEGu_SjRmntXhMyPu9ugjvG4SJx5tSzqEXoBzKW5zpg7rF0Xr3WtsHC9c-TeAXYfIbQgbnvRN3OqI1thPsBmMx51DOZzWW5qDiZYl-AWZnrbUwPpMsPIxA/s1600/blasia+A.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhaA6i81U1gXIY_foKLCCIDEGu_SjRmntXhMyPu9ugjvG4SJx5tSzqEXoBzKW5zpg7rF0Xr3WtsHC9c-TeAXYfIbQgbnvRN3OqI1thPsBmMx51DOZzWW5qDiZYl-AWZnrbUwPpMsPIxA/s320/blasia+A.JPG" width="313" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Blasia pusilla </i>showing scale-like gemmae on thallus lobes</span></td></tr>
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It also produces these crazy flask-like structures which house ovoid, several celled gemmae which are extruded through the mouth of the flask.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXzMk-ofudUDDH9T93pBcjOtJw7wjmSVkYRBRnFltQf_2wNCjYn7EjB531xN7fl2QvcMmdL-PUghhWEAV1bEsv4zVKBVaCh6R6S_-5TozyHWc4vqTxsl70MIgTMwJnkXUBhcg7fEQpPs/s1600/Blasia+flasks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFXzMk-ofudUDDH9T93pBcjOtJw7wjmSVkYRBRnFltQf_2wNCjYn7EjB531xN7fl2QvcMmdL-PUghhWEAV1bEsv4zVKBVaCh6R6S_-5TozyHWc4vqTxsl70MIgTMwJnkXUBhcg7fEQpPs/s320/Blasia+flasks.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Blaisia pusilla</i> flasks</span></td></tr>
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<div>
<br />Tortula papillosa, has multicellular globose gemmae which are found right on the leaf surface:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1l21uhtyNjOX_CMAbMJE7A9pSE9D2n8-w2n7jduYkqmWl1JnwSS0_hrJ6YszeuO8rJU5BZ17Hjdvsu4a9e3qVtixSXV6Ku0elLZDxmxpiJLWTvmdtacHY0XfKWdF-xh9JWXg6UeVvtx4/s1600/Tortula+papillosa+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1l21uhtyNjOX_CMAbMJE7A9pSE9D2n8-w2n7jduYkqmWl1JnwSS0_hrJ6YszeuO8rJU5BZ17Hjdvsu4a9e3qVtixSXV6Ku0elLZDxmxpiJLWTvmdtacHY0XfKWdF-xh9JWXg6UeVvtx4/s640/Tortula+papillosa+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This beautiful photo by Michael Luth, shows the gemmae on <i>Tortula papillosa's</i> leaves</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlEzODGY12wDAPGScXT-494ic7VoIO5NtvUiMB3xxo_kdOgxs3WDi_lL2P48I2FwSpApkCgHJlpG0IHccZOmU6kUVyLXZmotUUM02v1tOQtyar7ZE4Io0sDYpbnV0EwC4ZIAXx7MeJk4/s1600/T.+papill+leaf.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlEzODGY12wDAPGScXT-494ic7VoIO5NtvUiMB3xxo_kdOgxs3WDi_lL2P48I2FwSpApkCgHJlpG0IHccZOmU6kUVyLXZmotUUM02v1tOQtyar7ZE4Io0sDYpbnV0EwC4ZIAXx7MeJk4/s320/T.+papill+leaf.BMP" width="119" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A view of the leaf showing the globular gemmae clustered along the costa<br /></span></td></tr>
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<div>
Propagules are even further developed than gemmae, have a growing tip, and often can resemble small buds or miniature leafy shoots. these propagules can grow directly into a plant without going through the protonema stage.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlqEO7FjwBwnaTva2HZBtK79zWmlWMiSO8hDCXtioqbnMk2OQ6A3V0ZLo1NtKMq1zu3UNDqKe2SPlOdck7MslsZEaS3elVQswFzzMKOA7IsdJdGJM5awZsz5cQPjFZdY7b9IxdtTfDdw/s1600/D.+flag3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwlqEO7FjwBwnaTva2HZBtK79zWmlWMiSO8hDCXtioqbnMk2OQ6A3V0ZLo1NtKMq1zu3UNDqKe2SPlOdck7MslsZEaS3elVQswFzzMKOA7IsdJdGJM5awZsz5cQPjFZdY7b9IxdtTfDdw/s320/D.+flag3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dicranum flagellare</i> showing upright propagules which are very easily dislodged</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAffjbDzENkE6r59y5pFSOLvzKyNHPaHou57lRJ_LwjhmvLeKXCPXA1_coInX9OXZWVBW7hDSJY1qvDug2UOfy78lPLfcQ17iC-4KYmY66ACuWDsWh0LHGbyJOwc2_0gqpDC-sUrATxso/s1600/D.flag.brood+no+mm.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAffjbDzENkE6r59y5pFSOLvzKyNHPaHou57lRJ_LwjhmvLeKXCPXA1_coInX9OXZWVBW7hDSJY1qvDug2UOfy78lPLfcQ17iC-4KYmY66ACuWDsWh0LHGbyJOwc2_0gqpDC-sUrATxso/s200/D.flag.brood+no+mm.BMP" width="50" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dicranum flagellare</i> propagule -<br />note how it looks like a tiny plant with reduced leaves.</span></td></tr>
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Many times the existence of gemmae or brood bodies is very helpful in determining a species. For example, <i>Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans</i> and <i>P. distichaceum</i> look very similar in the field...but if you looked at their propagules, they are easily identified:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqAoqHAmjHl-MCp_8P-Ket5rf-Nzs6GkNzo0WZy8wnsFltwx6qEmqunx2NyB4yTTPc8L-zj6YFk9dLP3tiG8E8dsyz5pr4ShhFL0yd-U98pFkWMPyNAWiJBIAJZDoSwUgGDp2sjRwn-4/s1600/Isopt.brood.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzqAoqHAmjHl-MCp_8P-Ket5rf-Nzs6GkNzo0WZy8wnsFltwx6qEmqunx2NyB4yTTPc8L-zj6YFk9dLP3tiG8E8dsyz5pr4ShhFL0yd-U98pFkWMPyNAWiJBIAJZDoSwUgGDp2sjRwn-4/s200/Isopt.brood.BMP" width="170" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Pseudotaxiphyllum distichaceum </i>propagule</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPLbSnElXfkWrwAC39XelyBU1S0mEzLbaEkgdn-tURz1woWtDbTtlKg7AL5l9qhd8vkZY4rw54_DZI8RaGgk0fAC51Ox0Uy-bzSmuLlb6p_rC9ihg4zdx4YqpopCLikqu2kNVuOqeckU/s1600/Isopt.+elegans+brood+branch+NO+MM.BMP" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsPLbSnElXfkWrwAC39XelyBU1S0mEzLbaEkgdn-tURz1woWtDbTtlKg7AL5l9qhd8vkZY4rw54_DZI8RaGgk0fAC51Ox0Uy-bzSmuLlb6p_rC9ihg4zdx4YqpopCLikqu2kNVuOqeckU/s320/Isopt.+elegans+brood+branch+NO+MM.BMP" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-size: medium;">Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans </i><span style="font-size: small;">propagule</span></td></tr>
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So, whether by fragmentation, gemmae or propagules, mosses & liverworts have found an ideal way to reproduce successfully without going through the costly and iffy process of sexual reproduction.<br />
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Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-79658466771495071952012-12-10T08:42:00.000-05:002012-12-10T08:42:25.622-05:00Bazzania trilobata - a BIG leafy, liverwortwhere <i>Conocephalum</i> is one of our largest <b><span style="color: #38761d;">thalloid</span></b> liverworts, <i>Bazzania</i> is one of our largest <b><span style="color: #38761d;">leafy </span></b>liverworts. this means that it has a stem and leaves and is much more 'moss-like' than the thalloid liverworts which are just thick or thin flattened plants without any differentiation into stems or leaves. Bazzania is very common in moist forests especially cedar swamps. it loves old stumps, humic soil, but can also be found on rocks and tree bases. when it's happy, it can form large, loose repeatedly forked cushions.<br />
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the way the leaves curl down somewhat over the stem have always reminded me of a centipede-like creature. Each leaf ends in 3 triangular teeth.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZTO4E7YFt-x6YHwJzMuZ0N2n2pWvlg7Upf6lnQSZRSfAiNkLFaqcGcdQa4EevFJ4wFTN1kBmKcT6DSQsSLstfF6plH5WMtwDjouySMJEh9VI1Djqw8sA5-QBSo68NR8KxgQJxn_k9so/s1600/bazzania+B.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPZTO4E7YFt-x6YHwJzMuZ0N2n2pWvlg7Upf6lnQSZRSfAiNkLFaqcGcdQa4EevFJ4wFTN1kBmKcT6DSQsSLstfF6plH5WMtwDjouySMJEh9VI1Djqw8sA5-QBSo68NR8KxgQJxn_k9so/s1600/bazzania+B.JPG" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0oUsOdO6j8tgt6RtB-tVuhhcyxQGlmD-wyh5hruEKlQ9Z4D1Gz0DU-2pIZ4cgh4Dqy9Ao6ck4OGDyeh3vjEzJ3smm-RjLD1pnZAQFbZWMZDPMAqJ3pda4Pxjo7S8Tb_ho2o7yuNcJ3o/s1600/img152.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0oUsOdO6j8tgt6RtB-tVuhhcyxQGlmD-wyh5hruEKlQ9Z4D1Gz0DU-2pIZ4cgh4Dqy9Ao6ck4OGDyeh3vjEzJ3smm-RjLD1pnZAQFbZWMZDPMAqJ3pda4Pxjo7S8Tb_ho2o7yuNcJ3o/s320/img152.bmp" width="251" /></a></div>
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Bazzania, like many liverworts has small underleaves...much smaller than the top leaves, and they generally have 4-5 teeth.<br />
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It also produces long rootlike branches which arise from the base of the underleaves, which you can see in this wonderful photo by Michael Luth:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEpWZofYqgKYP4_2bkakk842BL6aXeB7N6GjQc0xoVtX2t3220TKRpj3E3zoCw7dSD0pg3caHagfDt6aZgBXAIQHPplpjtERsJOTNOU2NXb4R2DWuDQKgBtuJ5HAbJPbnMmXC_uFJ5KE/s1600/Bazzania+trilobata+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEpWZofYqgKYP4_2bkakk842BL6aXeB7N6GjQc0xoVtX2t3220TKRpj3E3zoCw7dSD0pg3caHagfDt6aZgBXAIQHPplpjtERsJOTNOU2NXb4R2DWuDQKgBtuJ5HAbJPbnMmXC_uFJ5KE/s320/Bazzania+trilobata+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Some say that it has the smell of sandalwood, but i haven't noticed that myself...perhaps i'll check next time i'm hiking around the park trails.<br />
Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-36328201277874003992012-12-08T10:56:00.003-05:002012-12-08T10:56:42.278-05:00A BIG Liverworti haven't talked too much about liverworts, but they're no less deserving than mosses...Many of them are tiny and difficult to identify like the cephalozias..or somewhat bigger and harder to identify (i'm thinking Lophozias here). But there are a few that are very recognizable in the field....and <i>Conocephalum conicum</i> is one of our largest thalloid liverworts. It loves wet soil along streams, under ledges and over rocks next to waterfalls. It grows in overlapping, flat mats. It rather looks like green snake skin.<br />
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A close up of the thallus shows that it has little polygonal markings on the surface (which give it it's distinctive snakeskin-like appearance...and that in the center of each polygon is a dot. These dots are pores which lead into air chambers. Conocephalum is part of a group of liverworts that have a multi-layered, or complex, thallus - small epidermal (surface) cells and larger interior cells. It is quite aromatic and emits a spicy-fragrant scent when the fresh plant is crushed.<br />
This liverwort is dioecious, which is a fancy word meaning that it has separate male and female plants. the plant above is male...you can tell by the small, brown circular patches at the end of the branches.<br />
The next time you're in a wet area, look for this conspicuous liverwort.<br />
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-21411331148874410412012-12-04T20:00:00.002-05:002012-12-04T20:00:24.647-05:00Leucobryum glaucum - the pincushion moss The other little moss that was peeking out of the birch bark, which i didn't notice right away, was a little piece of <i>Leucobryum glaucum</i>. this distinctive moss was one of the first mosses i learned as it's easily identifiable.<br />
One of the few mosses with a common name...it goes by 'Pincushion Moss' or even better...'Mother-in-Law's cushion'. It can grow into quite large rounded cushions, large enough to sit on...and it looks ever so cushy and comfy...so, if you don't actually like your mother-in-law, you invite her to rest her feet and have a seat....what you don't tell her, is that this moss, like many of the sphagnums is really good at soaking up water like a sponge, so when you sit down on it, you will end up with a wet bottom.<br />
the thing that makes Leucobryum so distinctive, is also the reason why it soaks up water...it's leaf contains a great number of empty cells...The leaf has a midrib that is so broad that it doesn't look like a midrib at all anymore...it just looks like the leaf is thick and fleshy. When the plant dries out, it's color changes from green to a pale whitish green or light blue-green that is very distinctive.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">a small clump of moist <i>Leucobryum</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Notice the color when it's dry</span></td></tr>
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The cushions of Leucobryum are actually many separate plants all crowded together. the plants in the center of the clump continue to elongate which can make it form a nice hemispherical cushion.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">this is a scan of a piece of <i>Leucobryum</i> taken from a large cushion</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">a <i>Leucobryum</i> leaf - the whole center is made up of a thick midrib</span><br /></td></tr>
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<i>Leucobryum</i> loves moist or even swampy woods and grows on humusy soil, often where stumps have completely rotted to the ground. Even though it prefers these moist areas, it can also be found in much drier areas as well. But almost always in acid areas.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVweOL5LyFtftogWwgYGVcgaM2cj5IInF4tc2Hit2O-K2_M0cB0WnsJlBNmol_iCcpFOt7L83QOJkH-4Rn7deDNQowJokeJ8os22EC6pIH1oq8ySJrFI4JSmpCaYBMJsBW6J9v06BybY/s1600/leucobryum+habit+(catamount).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVweOL5LyFtftogWwgYGVcgaM2cj5IInF4tc2Hit2O-K2_M0cB0WnsJlBNmol_iCcpFOt7L83QOJkH-4Rn7deDNQowJokeJ8os22EC6pIH1oq8ySJrFI4JSmpCaYBMJsBW6J9v06BybY/s640/leucobryum+habit+(catamount).jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here is a nice patch of <i>Leucobryum</i> growing up next to McLeod pond in Colrain, MA.<br />Now, doesn't it look comfy to sit on??</span></td></tr>
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Next time you're out in the woods, keep your eyes open for this lovely, common moss.Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-16727265264047308452012-12-03T09:12:00.001-05:002012-12-03T09:12:05.292-05:00Hypnum imponens - the Brocade MossAs i was hiking around the park trails the other day, i picked up this piece of birch bark...<br />
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i loved the little moss poking through the crack in the bark...as i looked closer at it, i noticed that there were actually two species, <i>Hypnum imponens</i> and <i>Leucobryum glaucum</i>, both of which are very common on the ground. It got me to thinking about how they came to be in that little piece of bark, and i came to the conclusion that the bark was growing close to the ground and as the tree was dying (or dead) the mosses grew up from the ground and through the bark.<br />
i've been noticing <i>Hypnum imponens</i> a lot over the past month...it seems to glow at the trail edges, maybe that's because there's so little green in the woods these days and one is less distracted. Commonly called 'Brocade moss' i think due to its usually neat, embroidered look. it can form extensive mats on old logs and humusy ground and likes it a little damp. This is what it commonly looks like:<br />
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it often has a very characteristic orange-brown color and a very neat arrangement of branches along the stem called pinnate (like a feather).<br />
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Like many in the Hypnum genus, it has very curly leaves which you would see if you turned the branch over...it looks smooth on top and somewhat bristly underneath (which are all the leaf tips curling under)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">under side of branch tip</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">curved leaves - often called 'falcate-secund'</span><br /></td></tr>
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you can also see that it has no midrib or 'costa' to the leaf and something interesting is happening at the leaf base where it attaches to the stem. most of the cells in the main part of the leaf are quite long and linear...but the cells at the base are much shorter, even a little inflated. Those cells are called 'alar' cells and are often differentiated in many species of moss and are used as an aid in identification of closely related species.<br />
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so..closer up, these cells look like this:<br />
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in <i>Hypnum imponens</i> they are often distinctly colored orange-brown as well.<br />
Look for this common species the next time you are out hiking!<br />
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next post, i'll take a closer look at the other species found in bark - Leucobryum glaucum<br />
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-69845396889603624462012-10-08T19:02:00.000-04:002012-10-08T19:02:28.463-04:00My own little forayThe Andrews Foray was conducted on September 9... i was unable to attend and so decided to have my own little foray right here in town. i decided to go to two places that i hadn't been to in maybe 10-15 years.<br />
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the first was a powerline cut:</div>
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i had found <i>Helodium paludosum</i> here and wanted to see if i could find it again. (i didn't).<br />
Powerlines are great places to find disturbed soil bryophytes. Often, as in this one, they have wet areas too, where fun mosses can be found. The most abundant mosses were <i>Polytrichum commune</i> and <i>Aulacomnium palustre</i>. these two were very abundant on the banks.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Polytrichum commune</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26_iBjxsyoXUCjbnQHTxeQpYRtK5fc4ptK3dPzQ4P1Db1sE1dsAApBTYlGoRIVeBqo6hSTxmLPSbeehO6M8XrNShyphenhyphenO-TaAG9ybE2_THsj0ESscTeCL6gra74IEfPGkiWX1vtlfh22t9Y/s1600/aulacom+palustre1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg26_iBjxsyoXUCjbnQHTxeQpYRtK5fc4ptK3dPzQ4P1Db1sE1dsAApBTYlGoRIVeBqo6hSTxmLPSbeehO6M8XrNShyphenhyphenO-TaAG9ybE2_THsj0ESscTeCL6gra74IEfPGkiWX1vtlfh22t9Y/s320/aulacom+palustre1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Aulacomnium palustre</i><br /></td></tr>
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Other bryos i found included: <i>Ditrichum lineare</i> (on muddy dirt), <i>Trematodon ambiguus, Atrichum angustatum, Pohlia annotina & P. bulbifera, Leucobryum glaucum, Polytrichum pilliferum</i> (hanging around rock edges), <i>Thuidium delicatulum, Hedwigia ciliata, Plagiomnium cuspidatum, Callicladium haldanianum, Fissidens bushii, Atrichum cf altecristatum, Atrichum crispum, Hypnum pallescens, Hypnum imponens & H. lindbergii.</i> <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-Ol-umI0tWJlpWYEhnna1XnieZo5_dHvktszvWNsPMYlJ03B5ejAGIc3XI_JoEQMEzd0tFSao8UBrDF7x6htPFMv2gBG5qSowk_r9aPzJ-NCCOFXGlSXmQJTEDPj2Bk-wcCr_IT-P3E/s1600/Trematodon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-Ol-umI0tWJlpWYEhnna1XnieZo5_dHvktszvWNsPMYlJ03B5ejAGIc3XI_JoEQMEzd0tFSao8UBrDF7x6htPFMv2gBG5qSowk_r9aPzJ-NCCOFXGlSXmQJTEDPj2Bk-wcCr_IT-P3E/s320/Trematodon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Trematodon ambiguus</i> - note the LONG neck to the capsule.</td></tr>
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there was a little brook that ran across the access road and in this i found <i>Scapania nemorosa</i>, <i>Fontinalis antipyretica</i>, <i>Sphagnum sp</i>., <i>Hygrohypnum sp., Racomitrium aciculare</i> (covering the rocks).<br />
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But the most exciting species i found looked like this:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIstD2yjgNfqeXUqFHQ3xg2mELh6KJW6GnT3rVDRhpHIJg9mrt_pVd3xfKlo4jon3fDmsz6VYKhvZoGYnqlBSCT5d2RSeVDEkZ04G10MIgo0xH3YJng_-vGr_zDulsZgMqnDAdLbyTTNc/s1600/DSCN2236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIstD2yjgNfqeXUqFHQ3xg2mELh6KJW6GnT3rVDRhpHIJg9mrt_pVd3xfKlo4jon3fDmsz6VYKhvZoGYnqlBSCT5d2RSeVDEkZ04G10MIgo0xH3YJng_-vGr_zDulsZgMqnDAdLbyTTNc/s320/DSCN2236.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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See that green fuzz on the left side of the mud crack? yup...that's it!</div>
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With my handlens i could see the tiniest of capsules, meaning i had found a nice fall ephemeral....but which one??? i was thinking ephemerum....but when i looked at it under the scopes it turned out to be <i>Micromitriuim megalosporum</i> - one of the tiniest mosses...it's capsules are round and inserted within the leaves. It could easily be mistaken for algal growth. it often will be found on muddy soil when a pond recedes in the fall. I had only seen this species once - shown to me by Bill Buck, and now a new record for Franklin Co, Mass!<br />
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the second spot i went to was where an old beaver dam used to be, but was now mostly a sedge meadow.<br />
The sedge growth was so dense that there was hardly any mosses at all. i had found <i>Pohlia bulbifera</i> here and was looking for it (even though i just saw it up on the powerline cut.)<br />
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i was lucky to find both Pohlia annotina and P. bulbifera:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTi1SNTpFVr2ZObZU6_d3Xr82mgZiMYf56MV3zM76ou7Gode-w057H5rY7hw4AcSYGG_BD_8mXbfhiHWPx0eWOWKTM_njv_I5oULiqo-ZasY7V4yex2S3ihPB86b05l11vYvj2v6UPFI/s1600/pohlia+annotina.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwTi1SNTpFVr2ZObZU6_d3Xr82mgZiMYf56MV3zM76ou7Gode-w057H5rY7hw4AcSYGG_BD_8mXbfhiHWPx0eWOWKTM_njv_I5oULiqo-ZasY7V4yex2S3ihPB86b05l11vYvj2v6UPFI/s320/pohlia+annotina.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Pohlia annotina</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Pohlia bulbifera</span></i></td></tr>
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Other bryos i saw included <i>Bryum argenteum, Atrichum crispum, Dicranella heteromalla</i>, and <i>Philonotis fontana. </i>I also found some of the hornwort, <i>Anthoceros punctatum,</i> and also another small ephemeral which was puzzling to me. It looked sort of like <i>Physcomitrium pyriforme</i> except the capsule wasn't really very exserted, and that fruits in the spring anyway....and it didn't look like <i>Pottia truncata</i> either.<br />
When i got it under the scope, it turned out to be a Physcomitrium - not pyriforme, but <i>P. immersum - </i>another new species for me and possibly new for mass as well....<br />
So, all in all, a great mini foray for me!Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-27676773806032857882012-06-29T18:55:00.000-04:002012-06-29T18:55:36.156-04:00Mosses on Tree Trunks<br />
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What better place to start looking at mosses than on tree trunks. They’re right at eye level - no bending over for these! Mosses included here are those found higher than 2 1/2 to 3 feet above the ground, any further down and you’re getting into the nebulous tree base region! Both mosses and liverworts are found on trees and the nice thing is that, in our area, the bryoflora is limited and predictable. <br />
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How many bryophytes will you find? Perhaps 16 or so mosses with 10 common ones and about 5 liverworts, 4 of which will be fairly common.</div>
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The <b>BIG 3</b> bryophytes of tree trunks in our area are:</div>
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<i>Ulota crispa, Platygyrium repens</i> and <i>Frullania eboracensis</i>. These three are so common, that if you learn them, you will know what grows on tree trunks 75% of the time!</div>
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There are several different growth forms that you will notice:</div>
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<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;"> Cushion formers</span></b> -these are many small upright plants crowded together to form either dense or loose cushions. Examples of these include<i> Ulota crispa, Dicranum montanum</i> and<i> D. viride</i> and the <i>Orthotrichums</i>. </div>
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<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Mat formers</span></b> - these are those that form low, dense mats tight to the trunk and include such bryophytes as <i>Platygyrium repens</i>, <i>Hypnum pallescens</i>, <i>Frullania</i> and<i> Radula</i>. In moister areas or on large, old trees (often maple) you get a looser, deeper cushion such as<i> Anomodon attenuatus </i>(although this moss is more often found at the base of the tree, sometimes it can creep up quite high). </div>
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Finally you have the<b> <span style="color: #6aa84f;">Shelf-like form</span></b>, seen in such bryophytes as <i>Neckera pennata</i>, <i>Leucodon andrewsianus</i> and the liverwort <i>Porella platyphylla</i>, where the plant grows in overlapping shelves and sticks out away from the trunk of the tree.</div>
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There is also a difference between which species you might find on a tree depending on the type of forest you are in and what kind of tree you’re looking at. Species on apple trees in an orchard will be different from those found in rich beech/maple woods or drier oak/hickory woods or an old willow next to a stream. Trees found in old growth woods will also have a different community of bryophytes compared to those in second growth. </div>
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<br /></div>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-72599959663980454222012-06-29T18:28:00.001-04:002012-06-29T18:28:25.043-04:00Moved, fairly settled & Workshop NoticeWell...it's been a crazy couple of months - have moved back up to Rowe,<br />
cleaned and mowed and cleaned some more....now it's time to think about those mosses.<br />
<br />
<span style="color: red; font-size: large; font-weight: bold;">WORKSHOP! Beginners and Refresher workshop July 23-27 here in Rowe, MA. </span>Forgotten everything you once knew?<br />
Or don't know a thing but are interested?<br />
Email me for details.<br />
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-79701762750076287292012-05-06T09:22:00.000-04:002012-05-06T09:25:18.686-04:00Fresh mosses!After three months of looking at dried specimens, it was refreshing to take a hike and look at some FRESH mosses. It's been rainy the past week and everything was lush. Many of the Plagiomniums and Atrichums had new leaves which were a nice light green compared to last years leaves. The first stop on my hike was near a limy boulder. The side was covered with Mnium marginatum and below that was Anomodon rostratus looking like a pile rug:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90I4CAbeznDjeYzl4x9sRgqbkLPEbEck39iij3LLiH-WaM3KfGATihih3vTxc1djyV2gBqd9envl_HpiFXiGn8RVihP4p80ffUW9q3XmAmsLF7qYlXZX0UwBhRrfDfHVwb6N5wwE1WWo/s1600/rhodobryum+CAT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj90I4CAbeznDjeYzl4x9sRgqbkLPEbEck39iij3LLiH-WaM3KfGATihih3vTxc1djyV2gBqd9envl_HpiFXiGn8RVihP4p80ffUW9q3XmAmsLF7qYlXZX0UwBhRrfDfHVwb6N5wwE1WWo/s320/rhodobryum+CAT.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">On the top of the boulder was a nice patch of </span><i style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Rhodobryum ontariense</i><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">, very nicely opened with the wet weather. Its older name of </span><i style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Rhodobryum roseum</i><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> seems much more appropriate with its nice rose-like growth form.</span></span>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"> All over the ground, tops of boulders, covering logs was the fern-like moss, </span><i style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Thuidium delicatulum</i><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">:</span> </span></td></tr>
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<b>The next stop was on a powerline cut and the Polytrichums were wonderful! If you want to look at several kinds of Polytrichums, a powerline is the place to be. </b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiJGn6LaeIi9CMMjt3IF7X5wBeoeaUhQla9LWIOBYUJIYyeecXhuoDyVlwyqZF9Wx18s2wdi12s3jNoH6UZ0YwCI9pagrIkA2GgxAvB0GXw-AyeNsdVcBHoSENnEHKe4byUuc0rsWQN8/s1600/pol+junip+&+pol+pallid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAiJGn6LaeIi9CMMjt3IF7X5wBeoeaUhQla9LWIOBYUJIYyeecXhuoDyVlwyqZF9Wx18s2wdi12s3jNoH6UZ0YwCI9pagrIkA2GgxAvB0GXw-AyeNsdVcBHoSENnEHKe4byUuc0rsWQN8/s320/pol+junip+&+pol+pallid.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Polytrichum juniperinum</i> is shown here next to <i>Polytrichum pallidisetum</i>. Note the nice silvery bluegreen of <i>P. juniperinum</i> on the left:</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHl_o8IJbP3fM1BGDLTcmD2gDwc7Yfwdxu2hg-BAbgEiy2oIGhpIXJbHaqY-HbRLtU6iWRyslpAQc2fb69-oaH03uBmjA9DsUI5eR4XDvmMEBsV8A35u2WLGG6KGXYMjuVz2ng85Vvx84/s1600/pol+junip+&+cladonia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHl_o8IJbP3fM1BGDLTcmD2gDwc7Yfwdxu2hg-BAbgEiy2oIGhpIXJbHaqY-HbRLtU6iWRyslpAQc2fb69-oaH03uBmjA9DsUI5eR4XDvmMEBsV8A35u2WLGG6KGXYMjuVz2ng85Vvx84/s320/pol+junip+&+cladonia.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Here's a lovely picture of the male splash cups of <i>P. juniperinum</i> amongst some lichens on the top of a dry boulder:</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp3XXentN3dTcHpLWY6hG6Qjb2IBSjwOT7c4PX3PecUuYuQt2qmljTGCujXOCyzNzHPSk797KvTEz7UPZeiRv2n6cnTi69Nzi0SGg0dXYR1ADN6yeMlH_XIi_gxw3-OhtnKSf-imjmi0/s1600/pol+junip+splash+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkp3XXentN3dTcHpLWY6hG6Qjb2IBSjwOT7c4PX3PecUuYuQt2qmljTGCujXOCyzNzHPSk797KvTEz7UPZeiRv2n6cnTi69Nzi0SGg0dXYR1ADN6yeMlH_XIi_gxw3-OhtnKSf-imjmi0/s320/pol+junip+splash+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's a close-up of the splash cups</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D57Us1omVq3F3gPyHjNcX7gBCnKn68muBVQI1h4jZ3bCZ1nQrF0n4QCN3-Oldz_l2zqfhxYLPz2ToQnq5FkYg-XsUSlUpl9ZOdJYHOK9_YupGAeGABCsQEivqvuxETKt3UT9pdlChSY/s1600/poly+piliferum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0D57Us1omVq3F3gPyHjNcX7gBCnKn68muBVQI1h4jZ3bCZ1nQrF0n4QCN3-Oldz_l2zqfhxYLPz2ToQnq5FkYg-XsUSlUpl9ZOdJYHOK9_YupGAeGABCsQEivqvuxETKt3UT9pdlChSY/s320/poly+piliferum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Polytrichum piliferum</i> has long, white hairpoints</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhxIzHYuu44f8ctFMWMfGuuRjDzwcY6pxK2sV09AzObCUB-FbbvZJLlGZZB3bRLL8g5MANQ8zdWqH-97vm1Sv5oP_Yzan5bhZr15Kn5vHxzHt4uU0Ld8jSZkLIoWYhjtJbOlc_SHd_oM/s1600/Polyt+commune.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhxIzHYuu44f8ctFMWMfGuuRjDzwcY6pxK2sV09AzObCUB-FbbvZJLlGZZB3bRLL8g5MANQ8zdWqH-97vm1Sv5oP_Yzan5bhZr15Kn5vHxzHt4uU0Ld8jSZkLIoWYhjtJbOlc_SHd_oM/s320/Polyt+commune.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">A deep cushion of <i>Polytrichum commune</i><br /><br /><b>And i couldn't help but notice all the other nice things happening in the woods:</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbbTSW_aCWH_Lsq-TF0YAxY72If4HG43ICb22dIvbesjH913edgrOkmTNTtyVLDkBKgBuBllmoFI886aiPSL0TdUk5CmlIoa-yahWX47ABP057dgckbOm74p_4hdgNoE6QL3I5OAhAoM/s1600/DSCN2108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbbTSW_aCWH_Lsq-TF0YAxY72If4HG43ICb22dIvbesjH913edgrOkmTNTtyVLDkBKgBuBllmoFI886aiPSL0TdUk5CmlIoa-yahWX47ABP057dgckbOm74p_4hdgNoE6QL3I5OAhAoM/s320/DSCN2108.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">All the ferns were unfurling</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7sbK6_pL83KUlmY3UfOHoyaFwRFwdkqyleQT_v1XVMqq-EilUGe4FvQ1l9mxFE6MRiWq7JaX9uafTC5GvC4FWwhg4A1xTJKm5OVA9IdsnXbRt7UTt-yc8doSke5uM7rhrZml2LqsrAs/s1600/DSCN2109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7sbK6_pL83KUlmY3UfOHoyaFwRFwdkqyleQT_v1XVMqq-EilUGe4FvQ1l9mxFE6MRiWq7JaX9uafTC5GvC4FWwhg4A1xTJKm5OVA9IdsnXbRt7UTt-yc8doSke5uM7rhrZml2LqsrAs/s320/DSCN2109.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Saw several nice patches of the downy rattlesnake plantain.<br /><i>Goodyera pubescens</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynFOPU0vEduV4mw5ngCseusSvMJCBRzISB4XKJ_D89us-9yxFEQecpdpuV7WoeJAqJ0zm7cVf5CoO78MuUlIrdBbfSKOtjXH0cjJDq38gWAbjlkNbcm_5nehLXeWMTq52kPpZp2HuwXc/s1600/Jack+in+the+pulpit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynFOPU0vEduV4mw5ngCseusSvMJCBRzISB4XKJ_D89us-9yxFEQecpdpuV7WoeJAqJ0zm7cVf5CoO78MuUlIrdBbfSKOtjXH0cjJDq38gWAbjlkNbcm_5nehLXeWMTq52kPpZp2HuwXc/s320/Jack+in+the+pulpit.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Who doesn't love Jack-in-the-pulpit?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBHFnGzMPC18ANtkC3DlEAyAWxGgs9BGUWJ9GeG6FnvAgPEVKmaZlP7I9HbYAJPbcD-ggF5WfaQSjGhEjb68Q-8dWNFFK0HDGFseyYxQH5fOlXqdCNsPSaR6cUwDdjONtp25cEy7uqxU/s1600/sweet+white+violet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWBHFnGzMPC18ANtkC3DlEAyAWxGgs9BGUWJ9GeG6FnvAgPEVKmaZlP7I9HbYAJPbcD-ggF5WfaQSjGhEjb68Q-8dWNFFK0HDGFseyYxQH5fOlXqdCNsPSaR6cUwDdjONtp25cEy7uqxU/s320/sweet+white+violet.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lots of sweet white violets, <i>Viola blanda</i></span></td></tr>
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And, unfortunately lots of other, not so nice things are out this spring:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYw_0gYnF-t2vxrGVR6QhmhmzkCmEvsD9Flpg1SQP4t7lJfZytP7evnU7D7gGfeNugeKXiNLqbyy3eJoY-M2YAEmH5dLmET_zvqXZTstEgBbrG7U0d8Bf3f8iI25rKK5Fw00SKbdW9JM4/s1600/DSCN2114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYw_0gYnF-t2vxrGVR6QhmhmzkCmEvsD9Flpg1SQP4t7lJfZytP7evnU7D7gGfeNugeKXiNLqbyy3eJoY-M2YAEmH5dLmET_zvqXZTstEgBbrG7U0d8Bf3f8iI25rKK5Fw00SKbdW9JM4/s320/DSCN2114.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">an adult female deer tick....yuck.<br />came back with 2 deer ticks and 2 dog ticks.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-68756045066472191652012-03-29T17:56:00.000-04:002012-03-29T17:56:40.227-04:00Bryophytes in Second and Old Growth ForestsI'm interested in bryophyte communities...which bryos like to hang out together...not only, say on a log, but in an ecological community as well....in a rich fen, or in an oak-hickory woods for example. The following two illustrations show a generalized 'map' of the commonly found bryophytes in a second growth woods and an old growth woods.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHqXcX3SJ2B3zuXdOEjphcrX9RYKR7ODZFiAzSZLE1-0HRbb8N1UbA7HFLb_LP6sz3o3AeEVWMVeofwK-Y4EQI_XFXqna_PjepGcQviDuJLNYdcC47Z6ndeqtItAmdHMrEAH5e_zo7D4/s1600/img144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHqXcX3SJ2B3zuXdOEjphcrX9RYKR7ODZFiAzSZLE1-0HRbb8N1UbA7HFLb_LP6sz3o3AeEVWMVeofwK-Y4EQI_XFXqna_PjepGcQviDuJLNYdcC47Z6ndeqtItAmdHMrEAH5e_zo7D4/s320/img144.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #f1c232; font-size: small;">Common Bryophytes of Second Growth Hardwood Forests</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_fagFxr6BVjEDZ7rZPaumGwXvYl_zc1_wh8qdMODgh5bGvDNAPOn2K8hAJCvNrXxVvTWjfc27aHeVTkboUfJ-RgIQ0BCtsioeOObdW4hI_zBpTvFShTOxtL_9Soh2clsuJji0iu8XqU/s1600/img145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG_fagFxr6BVjEDZ7rZPaumGwXvYl_zc1_wh8qdMODgh5bGvDNAPOn2K8hAJCvNrXxVvTWjfc27aHeVTkboUfJ-RgIQ0BCtsioeOObdW4hI_zBpTvFShTOxtL_9Soh2clsuJji0iu8XqU/s320/img145.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Common Bryophytes of Old Growth/Rich Woods</span></td></tr>
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One of the things you'll notice is that the diversity is greater in the old growth compared to second growth woods. Also, due to high amounts of leaf litter, there are virtually no bryophytes on the ground. Of course there are many more species found than illustrated here, but these are the species you are likely to run into in these areas.</div>
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In my next post, i'll show some maps from specific places.</div>
<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-86658005003894156282012-03-15T17:38:00.000-04:002012-03-15T17:38:21.887-04:00damn you<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;"><i>Atrichum crispum</i>.......fooling me again into thinking you're some type of <i>Mnium</i>!</span>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-46280328027845899802012-03-12T20:09:00.000-04:002012-03-12T20:09:00.094-04:00Atrichum crispulum, Atrichum altecristatum<i>Atrichum undulatum</i> is what i had always called this plant. This is what is was in Crum's Mosses of Eastern North America. He had split it into several varieties: var <i>altecristatum</i>, var <i>undulatum</i>, var <i>attenuatum</i>, and var <i>oerstedianum</i>. i never bothered with these and just called the plant<i> Atrichum undulatum. </i>When i got my new copy of Flora of North America, i looked further into this species. It said: <span style="color: #6aa84f;">"No <i>Atrichum</i> species occurring in North America has been as widely misunderstood as<i> A. undulatum</i>....Its occurrence in North America has not been demonstrated. As used by American authors, it probably refers to <i>A. altecristatum</i>."</span> <i>Atrichum crispulum</i> had also been recently called <i>Atrichum oerstedianum</i>, but comparisons to the type specimen indicate that the two are separate with <i>A. oerstedianum </i>being found in Mexico and Central America.<br />
So, ok, we don't have <i>A. undulatum</i>, what we DO have is <i>A. crispulum</i> and <i>A. altecristatum</i> from that complex. In working on my wooded wetlands project, i've come across several specimens and this is how to tell the two species apart...since i didn't have the exact substrate for the specimen (Apparently <i>A. altecristatum</i> prefers soil banks, along roads & trails, on hummocks - more like <i>A. angustatum </i>and <i>A. crispulum</i> prefers soil in mostly shaded habitats, often wet banks along streams or at the margins of fens or swamps), i had to make leaf cross sections to look at the height of the lamellae (which are the long ridges that are lined up along the costa). Almost all the specimens i looked at were <i>A crispulum</i>...it has 4-6 lamellae that are very short, usually they were 3 cells high. In <i>A. altecristatum</i>, the lamellae are 4-6 cells high. If you're lucky enough to collect a fruiting plant, <i>A. crispulum</i> has a capsule that is curved and inclined (see the photos and drawings below), whereas <i>A. altecristatum </i>capsule is usually more straight and erect.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRHEN8A9xZc3dHkIi22ualtDJOInYf8eGUI6GZXxpbA4xPZD13jCFcWcwR9MQ-pBxfWPggiCQiKGmMJk5VgTl4O-y2tps2EQ9pXJjALpWmBKtAWxyqX0VXcN1AYd3JJaAVeIHCBN153o/s1600/Atrichum+crispulum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBRHEN8A9xZc3dHkIi22ualtDJOInYf8eGUI6GZXxpbA4xPZD13jCFcWcwR9MQ-pBxfWPggiCQiKGmMJk5VgTl4O-y2tps2EQ9pXJjALpWmBKtAWxyqX0VXcN1AYd3JJaAVeIHCBN153o/s320/Atrichum+crispulum.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i>Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-65378507311677527372012-03-11T18:01:00.001-04:002012-03-11T18:01:24.113-04:00Trying to get back!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">there is a reason i've been missing these last few months......</span>
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i have literally thousands of specimens to identify...this is one box of four, with each bunch having from 15-25 packets! This project concerns wooded wetlands, so there's a lot of repetition in the samples....<br />
Lots of Thuidium delicatulum, Aulacomnium palustre, Hypnum imponens, Dicranum flagellare, Dicranum scoparium,Tetraphis pellucida, Leucobryum glaucum, Pallavicinia lyellii, Bazzania trilobata, Climacium, Atrichums, Rhizommium appalachianum, Calliergon cordifolium, Polytrichums and of course Sphagnums....over and over and over...lots and lots of Sphagnum palustre, S. fimbriatum, S. capillifolium, S. magellanicum, S. girgensohnii, S. subsecundum, S. fallax & flexuosum....a few times i've gotten the super nice S. wulfianum.<br />
So, between work and identifying all these and trying to get a run or bike ride in has left little time for my book and blog! Luckily the specimens are good and not too scrappy. Plus it gets me thinking about the community of wooded wetland bryophytes. In my next post i'll talk some about the Atrichum undulatum complex.Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-80688389787035461732012-02-16T18:23:00.001-05:002012-02-16T18:23:56.089-05:00Some Terminology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br /><br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-55148421194060699882012-01-12T20:33:00.000-05:002012-01-12T20:33:41.204-05:00Our Common toothy leaved PolytrichumsWorking on Polytrichum drawings today (including Polytrichastrum).<br />
The following four species are our most common that have toothy leaves.<br />
<i>P. commune</i> is the largest and if fruiting is easily told from all the others by it's shorter capsule with a large 'knob' at the base (see diagram). <i>Polytrichastrum alpinum</i> has a dark brown<b><span style="color: red;"> cylindrical</span> </b>capsule (separating it from the other Polytrichums which have <b><span style="color: red;">angled</span></b> capsules. If<i> P. alpinum</i> is not fruiting, then you have to section the leaf and look at the lamellae. In this species the terminal or top-most cell is papillose, meaning it has little bumps all over it. The other Polytrichums in this group have smooth terminal cells. The other two species are more difficult to tell apart.<i> P. pallidisetum</i> seems to prefer a moister woodland, whereas<i> P. ohioense</i> tolerates drier ground.<i> P. pallidisetum</i> is often quite large and is the typical woodland Polytrichum found in the hardwood forests. <i>P. ohioense</i> tends to be smaller and darker and replaces <i>P.</i> <i>pallidisetum</i> as you head toward the coast and get into oak-pine woods. Although they can often be found growing together. They have a similar long, angled capsule.<i> P. pallidisetum</i> does have a paler seta, especially towards the top, although young<i> P. ohioense</i> also has a pale seta. The only reliable way to tell the two apart is by doing sections of the leaf. I cut off the leaf base and tips (so they lie nice and flat on the slide) and cut a lot of cross sections about mid leaf. Then i scrape the lamellae off so they lie flat on the slide - this is the best way to tell these two apart.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNleAU9AVQrslGlDA0ExLtfuAunWzhw2yIpO6wtBD0p02QK6NcHmjmYPucveciuX-tPjy6428_8N0lynyA2oIAROUC1tRU2wIUjF_KQ-5L-eY0L9otzUl3jtKQJWZhbVJ-2HtzQgA58Q/s1600/lamellae+xsection.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvNleAU9AVQrslGlDA0ExLtfuAunWzhw2yIpO6wtBD0p02QK6NcHmjmYPucveciuX-tPjy6428_8N0lynyA2oIAROUC1tRU2wIUjF_KQ-5L-eY0L9otzUl3jtKQJWZhbVJ-2HtzQgA58Q/s200/lamellae+xsection.bmp" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Lamellae x-section of </span><i style="font-size: medium; text-align: -webkit-auto;">Polytrichum pallidisetum</i>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lamellae x-section of<i> Polytrichastrum alpinum</i> - note papillose (bumpy) topmost cell</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Polytrichastrum alpinum</i> - dark brown, cylindrical capsule</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Polytrichum commune</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(J. Jenkins photo)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Polytrichum pallidisetum</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Polytrichum ohioense</i></span></td></tr>
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<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-15579475083430791682012-01-04T19:40:00.001-05:002012-01-04T19:40:52.809-05:00Paraleucobryum & Oncophorus wahlenbergiiTwo other members of the Dicranum family could easily be confused for one of our common dicranums. The first is <i>Paraleucobryum longifolium</i>, a silvery-grey moss that also likes acid rocks...in fact it and <i>Dicranum fulvum </i>will grow together. When dry, they are easier to tell apart because <i>Paraleucobryum</i> is more of a grey-green and<i> D. fulvum</i> tends toward a black-green. Also when dry, if you use a higher power lens (20x) you can see a definite striping pattern on the back of <i>Paraleucobryum's</i> leaf. This is due to alternating bands of empty cells and cells with chlorophyll. When<i> Paraleucobryum</i> grows on tree bases, it can sometimes be confused with <i>Dicranum viride</i> because sometimes it has a few broken leaf tips. However, <i>D. viride</i> is never wispy and contorted when dry and is a bright green.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uPRnQnBQYOMzpzuXsEJOEYeRrP6IfBuW27jiGqG3QuxsQnLtvkpaBaZrK5f7FEp4FKikQHSGu4mIeQugbrw76vpQeOhtKtbufO40qCHJSnq62PqW7KdukOwa2kzwcagx1xnSSpdG1SY/s1600/paraleucobryum+smaller++jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2uPRnQnBQYOMzpzuXsEJOEYeRrP6IfBuW27jiGqG3QuxsQnLtvkpaBaZrK5f7FEp4FKikQHSGu4mIeQugbrw76vpQeOhtKtbufO40qCHJSnq62PqW7KdukOwa2kzwcagx1xnSSpdG1SY/s320/paraleucobryum+smaller++jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Paraleucobryum longifolium</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Dicranum fulvum</span><br /></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyanaNq5zqHOZx70fWhrdG16kV_KCfgfFdtM_6mggdxq9RrddUhd85V3wsgeqWjZYvZo7Yr-A3aUkM6a58Bl-wCo61TcpJUCgIS76CGQ39oj2e885lFwFfyBqWVWh4AoumnIBs1BCoNts/s1600/Dicranum+viride+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyanaNq5zqHOZx70fWhrdG16kV_KCfgfFdtM_6mggdxq9RrddUhd85V3wsgeqWjZYvZo7Yr-A3aUkM6a58Bl-wCo61TcpJUCgIS76CGQ39oj2e885lFwFfyBqWVWh4AoumnIBs1BCoNts/s320/Dicranum+viride+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Dicranum viride </span></i><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(photo by M. Luth)</span></td></tr>
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The second moss is <i>Oncophorus wahlenbergii</i>...it loves rotten logs, especially in wet areas such as wooded swamps....the same place you'd also find<i> Dicranum flagellare. Oncophorus,</i> much less common,<i> </i> is much wispier and never has stiff little brood branches at the tips of it's branches like D. flagellare. Also it often has capsules which are curved and have a definite 'adam's apple'.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB54P1OFD2OMQVHkpNlLpNDb71NOpgieP_9f97KpXNYMApbeUju9Rxqy6xBDdJlj4iF4JwW173nk3ymwuf4BXAGPIXL4-cQEXISmjcQcl6Dkcr0pukScq3k35omQNV95SiUC65LrKKEKU/s1600/oncophorus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB54P1OFD2OMQVHkpNlLpNDb71NOpgieP_9f97KpXNYMApbeUju9Rxqy6xBDdJlj4iF4JwW173nk3ymwuf4BXAGPIXL4-cQEXISmjcQcl6Dkcr0pukScq3k35omQNV95SiUC65LrKKEKU/s1600/oncophorus.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Oncophorus wahlenbergii</i></span><br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;">(photo by M. Luth)</span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZAPP92V7ErMype0T3SLEL1JcW-bYYc52r1_E-4OE7HQzqFykZEszX9AAg627ZsW2akhfb4KlIH43oS9Kt4BAY_WrbepLCCmVsWcljQydtMnS39myHp5D_FbxKBEGx18RACA-Vv17-s0/s1600/img076.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZAPP92V7ErMype0T3SLEL1JcW-bYYc52r1_E-4OE7HQzqFykZEszX9AAg627ZsW2akhfb4KlIH43oS9Kt4BAY_WrbepLCCmVsWcljQydtMnS39myHp5D_FbxKBEGx18RACA-Vv17-s0/s200/img076.bmp" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Oncophorus</i> capsule - note the 'adam's apple' at the base of the capsule.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Dicranum flagellare </i> Note the stiff, upright brood branches which break off very easily and can grow into new plants. These are best developed in the late summer or early fall. My daughter used to call this the 'haircut' moss because she would rub her hand over the top making the brood branches fly off in all directions, thus giving it a 'haircut'.</span></td></tr>
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<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7801824842757576647.post-14364195961699330422012-01-01T18:42:00.000-05:002012-01-01T18:42:32.859-05:00More Dicranum comparisons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Suehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17017162652826282926noreply@blogger.com0