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COMMON WALL MOSSES
found around the farm buildings |
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The two pictures
above show GREY CUSHION MOSS Grimmia pulvinata. The capsules
are bent
down into the plant where the spores are released. The greyness
is due to the long hairs which extend from the leaf tips.
Size 2.5cm across. |
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CAPILLARY THREAD MOSS Bryum capillare is a common moss of
wall tops and found on the farm walls. Often found with many capsules.
2 cm. across. |
WALL
SCREW MOSS Tortula muralis
a common moss found on the tops of walls of Foxburrows Farm. The stem
and leaves twist together when dry. 2 cm. across. |
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SILVER MOSS Bryum argentium is a common moss
of crack in pavements in urban areas. Found on wall tops and in paving
at Hainault Forest. 2 cm. across. |
CURLY THATCH MOSS Dicroweisia cirrata -
not a Wall moss but found
in woodland growing in crevices on the stems of old elderberry bushes.
Width across 2 cm. |
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WOODLAND MOSSES |
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BUD-HEADED GROOVE-MOSS Aulocomnium androgynum found on
the ground and woodland floor on Dog Kennel Hill. 3 cm. across.
The stalked ball-like structures seen in close up are for vegetative
reproduction. They contain gemmae which break off and give rise to new
plants. |
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A moss Campylopus
introflexus
found on the woodland floor at the base of trees. It rarely has
capsules, but when brushed pieces break off (shown here) which will
form new plants vegetatively. 4 cm. across. |
A Beard moss Barbula convoluta which occupies the bare patches
of clay within the woodland on Dog Kennel Hill. 4 cm. across |
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SILKY
FORKLET MOSS Dicranella heteromalla The picture on the left
shows capsules. Common throughout the woodland on the ground and on
stream banks. 3cm across. |
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ROUGH STALKED FEATHER MOSS Brachythecium
rutabulum. Common in the woodland. 7 cm. across. |
Orthodontium lineare. Common on base of trees and rotting wood.
Specimen 3 cm across. |
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CATHERINE'S MOSS Atrichum undulatum
occasionally found on the clay woodland soil. Leaves are translucent, undulated,
giving a crinkled appearance. 3 cm. across |
WOOD HAIRCAP
Polytrichum formosum is found on the clay woodland soil. Leaves
opaque. 5 cm. across. |
COMMON
FEATHER MOSS Eurhynchium praelongum is common throughout the
woodland, covering litter, branches and tree bases where it likes the
shaded conditions.
10 cm.
across.
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MOSS OF BONFIRE SITES |
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COMMON
CORD-MOSS
Funaria hygrometrica
Found
on a bonfire site on the heathland.
Capsules are plump and the lid is pointed
Picture
5 cm. across.
Photo:
8th April 2005.
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MOSSES OF CLAY STREAM BANKS |
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SWAN'S NECK THYME MOSS Mnium hornum Common on the banks of
streams. The picture above right shows the fruiting capsules which
give the moss its common name of Swan neck. 6 cm. across |
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FLAT FORK MOSS Fissidens taxifolius An attractive moss on
stream banks throughout the forest.
4 cm. across |
An interesting moss
Rhizomnium punctatum low on the stream bank of Spurgate brook.
Several flower-like male stems contain antheridia. Fissidens
taxifolius is also present in the picture. 3.5
cm. across. |
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GRASSLAND MOSSES |
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A
Feather moss Brachythecium albicans which is found in large
patches on the grassland on Dog Kennel Hill.
6 cm.
across |
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SPRING
TURF FEATHER MOSS
Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus is a weed of acid grassland throughout
the forest. 9 cm. across. The picture on the right shows male stems. 5
cm. across |
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LIVERWORTS |
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L.
heterophylla
has bidentate leaves which change to more rounded leaves towards the tip of the
branch.
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L.
bidentata has bidentate leaves to the tip of the branch.
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A tiny
leafy liverwort Lophocolea heterophylla is found in damp
woodland on rotting hornbeam. The leaves appear as two ranks along the
stem. The white stems carry the capsules. Both young and old capsules
can be seen above. Picture 6 cm.
across. Two species of Lophocolea grow in similar habitats and
are often mixed together. The leaf shapes on the stem, using a good hand lens or microscope,
will separate them. |
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Lophocolea semiteres
has overlapping, rounded leaves.
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An alien liverwort from
the southern hemisphere, Lophocolea semiteres first recorded in
Hainault Forest 4th April 2004. Growing on rotting hornbeam.
Also found in Epping Forest it is larger than L.bidentata and
L.heterophylla.
Picture 4 cm. across. |
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CRESCENT CUP LICHEN
Lunularia cruciata
Often
present as a weed of greenhouses and flower pots, this large thalloid
liverwort is found on banks and rides in woodland. This specimen was
found on the bank of a feeder stream of the Lake.
The
gemmae or vegetative reproductive parts of the plant are held in
gemmae cups which as seen in the picture are crescent shape.
Picture
4 cm. across.
3rd April 2006. |
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