Mosses and ferns

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Enjoying learning about mosses and ferns, liverworts, hornworts… Devon

Two close-up photos of Greater Water-moss, Fontinalis antipyretica, an aquatic moss and bryophyte growing in a Devon brook. In the first image, long dark green moss shoots trail across a wet stone surface in shallow flowing water. The shoots run diagonally through the frame like loose underwater ribbons. Each shoot carries overlapping, pointed leaves, several millimetres long, which lie close to the stem where the water pulls them into narrow streaming strands. In the second image, the same moss is partly submerged in clearer water beside dark wet rock and pale stone. Some shoots are spread more openly, showing a softer, fuller shape, while others are drawn into thinner lines by the current. The colony appears flexible rather than rigid, bending with the flow beneath the water.
A sunken lane in Devon with a bank about 2 metres high on one side and about 1 metre high on the other. These banks are formed of soil and stone and are thickly covered in bryophytes, rising into shade cast by mature trees above. The two banks are approximately 1.5 metres apart. A shallow stream at the bottom flowing across limestone forms the path. On one of these damp banks, the image shows a close view of a patch of green leafy liverwort (a bryophyte), forming a soft mat among other mosses and liverworts. The colony extends across approximately one square metre. Individual shoots are about 3–5 mm wide and together form ridges across the surface of the colony. Each shoot is made up of leaves divided into two unequal lobes: a larger lower lobe and a smaller upper lobe that overlaps it. This gives the impression of four rows of leaves along the shoot. Within each lobe, a pale central band can be seen — this is a vitta, a strip of elongated cells rather than a true nerve. Rising above some of the shoots are pale, translucent stalks (setae), each topped with a dark brown, oblong capsule. These are the sporophytes of the liverwort, where spores are produced. The species is White Earwort (Diplophyllum albicans).
Close-up of a bright green moss colony, growing on a Devon Bank. Many tiny moss plants are packed together. The left of the frame is in the shade, some shoots look more open and leafy, with tiny leaves spreading away from the stems. Nearby, where the colony has been exposed to brighter sunshine and drying, the shoots of other plants have tightened into narrow rope-like strands. Their leaves are folded close around the stem, like overlapping scales, showing how the bryophyte changes shape as it loses moisture.
Two close-up photos of Prince-of-Wales Feathermoss, a green woodland moss and bryophyte, growing on a tree trunk. In the first photo, taken on a damp day, the moss forms many tight curled tufts on bark. The shoots are small, rounded, and bunched together, like little green rolled feathers, with patches of darker bark and pale lichen beside them. In the second photo, taken on a very rainy day, the same moss appears much more open and lush. The shoots spread into bright green, flattened, feathery sprays several centimetres long, overlapping down the tree trunk and holding rainwater between the tiny leaves.
Close-up of a pale green, glossy moss growing over the surface of a tree trunk in woodland. The bryophyte forms flattened, feathery sprays several centimetres long, with the shoots lying in loose overlapping layers. Individual leaves are tiny, around 1–2 mm long, giving the shoots a smooth, pressed-flat look. The shiny layered shoots are flat, rather than arched like the back of a woodlouse.
Sunlit woodland scene showing bright green Fox-tail Feathermoss in dappled sunlight carpeting the base of a moss-covered oak tree. Fresh green Dog's-mercury plants grow among the moss, with leafy woodland and tree trunks in the background.
Close-up photograph of a bright green moss colony growing on tree bark, with many orange-brown spore capsules among the shoots. The moss forms dense sprays on a large branch in damp Devon woodland, with a softly blurred woodland background.
Moss bryophyte forming dense, bright yellow-green tufts that have grown together into soft, loosely rounded cushion shapes across a shaded woodland soil bank beneath mature trees. Each tuft is made of closely packed upright shoots whose long, narrow leaves curve strongly to one side, giving a swept, flowing appearance. Rising above the leafy mass are numerous slender sporophytes: thin reddish setae bearing narrow, cylindrical capsules, standing like fine reeds among the leaves. The overall effect is of wind-swept cushions with a delicate layer of vertical spore-bearing stems above, catching the filtered woodland light.
Close-up of a moss bryophyte forming soft, bright green growth over the base of a tree in Devon woodland. The moss grows in loose, upright tufts and draping mats, following the contours of bark and decaying wood. Individual shoots rise from the surface, each with a central dark stem bearing many side branches, forming a small tree-like structure. The branches spread out into fine fronds, creating a layered, textured appearance. The colony occurs in quantity at the base of mature trees. A separated shoot shows the distinct structure, with a central stem and regularly arranged lateral branches, consistent with Fox-tail Feathermoss (Thamnobryum alopecurum).
Close-up of a leafy liverwort bryophyte forming spreading mats over a large limestone rock in a Devon lane. The shoots creep across the surface, branching irregularly and forming overlapping layers of green growth. The leaves are arranged in two rows along the stem, each leaf broad and rounded, overlapping like small tiles. Many leaves are folded, forming small pouch-like lobes underneath (lobules), giving the underside of the shoots a slightly inflated, textured appearance. The colony grows closely attached to the rock surface among other low bryophyte growth, following the contours of the stone. Under the microscope, the lobules are clearly visible and match the form typical of Wall Scalewort (Porella platyphylla).
Close-up of Common Smoothcap (Atrichum undulatum), a moss bryophyte forming small bright-green tufts (approx. 2–4 cm across) on a thin layer of soil over limestone on a bank. Upright shoots rise from the surface, each a few millimetres tall, with narrow leaves that appear wavy across their width (transversely undulate). Several slender reddish stalks (setae) extend above the tufts, each bearing a cylindrical capsule. The colony sits among other low moss growth, and a rounded leaf of Pennywort (Umbilicus rupestris) enters at the edge of the frame, giving scale. Under magnification, the capsule mouth shows a drum-like membrane (epiphragm). The leaf margins show clear teeth (serrate), with some paired teeth visible near the mid-leaf. The upper leaf surface shows parallel ridges (lamellae over the costa).
Close-up of a glossy black bloody-nosed beetle resting on a bright green, unfurling frond of Hart’s-tongue fern. The fern frond is curled at the tip, with fine hairs along its edge. The beetle’s rounded body contrasts sharply with the vivid green, while the soft-focus woodland background adds depth. The beetle appears still, emphasising its flightless nature.
A dense patch of moss (bryophyte) grows on a sloping soil bank at the upper edge of a woodland. The colony forms upright tufts, each made of slender green shoots standing one or two centimetres tall. At the tips of the shoots, the leaves narrow into fine, pale hairpoints (hyaline tips), whuch are bent away from the vertical and give the moss a frosted or silvery appearance, especially where the light catches them. Small water droplets cling to some of the hairpoints and stems. The shoots are closely packed, creating a soft, spiky texture across the surface rather than a flat mat. In places, older growth at the base appears darker and more compact, while newer shoots rise brighter green above. The moss sits among small fragments of soil, leaf litter, and tiny twigs, with a woody stem running across part of the scene. The colony spreads irregularly across the bank, following the contours of the ground.
A small hollow in the flat top of a stone wall contains a tiny colony of moss (bryophyte), now wet after rain. From the green base, slender red stalks (setae) rise, each carrying an elongated capsule (sporophyte). Clear raindrops cling to the capsules and stalks, some forming large teardrop shapes that partially envelop the capsules, magnifying their deep red colour inside. The colony sits in a shallow depression surrounded by rough, pale stone, only a few centimetres across. The droplets catch the light and appear bright and glass-like, giving the small group of capsules a jewel-like appearance.
A close-up photograph of a moss (bryophyte) forming a loose, spreading mat among short grass at ground level. The colony appears several centimetres across, with individual shoots a few centimetres long. Slender green grass blades run diagonally through the image, while the moss occupies the lower layer, creeping across the soil surface. The shoots rise slightly at their tips, giving a soft, uneven texture rather than forming a tight cushion. Each shoot is densely covered in leaves that at first appear as elongated triangles. Under the microscope, the leaf tips are blunt, but the margins are rolled (inrolled), giving the impression of a fine, tapering point. The leaves overlap closely along the stem, creating a slightly glossy, golden-green appearance in the light. Many shoot tips curve gently in one direction, giving a subtle combed or flowing effect. The overall structure is loose and interwoven, with branches spreading sideways to form a continuous mat rather than upright tufts. This growth pattern suggests a pleurocarpous moss, where shoots creep and branch across the surface. A small flowering plant with a reddish stem and scalloped green leaves appears on the left, providing scale — the moss shoots are only a few millimetres wide. The spreading, feathery habit, curved shoot tips, and apparently pointed leaves are consistent with Pointed Spearmoss (Calliergonella cuspidata), a species commonly found in damp grassland.
A dense patch of moss bryophytes carpeting a sandy bank on a bonfire site in Devon. The ground slopes gently upward and is composed of loose, pale sand with scattered dark particles of ash and soil. The moss forms a bright green, low carpet across the surface, with many slender, thread-like stalks (setae) rising above it. These stalks curve and twist in different directions, giving the colony a tangled, chaotic appearance. The colony extends over several centimetres, with individual stalks reaching a few centimetres in height. At the tips of many stalks sit small, nodding capsules (sporangia), green when young and some beginning to turn brown with age. In several places, the youngest capsules are still held low within the leafy shoots, appearing as small green “bulbs” nestled among the leaves. These retain their hood-like coverings (calyptra), before the stalk elongates and lifts them clear of the plant. The leafy base is made up of tiny upright shoots forming a soft, cushion-like layer that holds moisture against the sandy surface. The whole patch shows multiple stages of development at once, from newly forming capsules to fully extended stalks, characteristic of Bonfire-moss (Funaria hygrometrica), a species adapted to disturbed ground.
A patch of a Radula liverwort species growing on the rough bark of a recently felled tree in Devon. The bark surface is cracked and textured. In this area it is likely to be Even Scalewort (Radula complanata). This leafy liverwort spreads across the bark surface as a thin, bright green mat, forming low, overlapping shoots that creep flat against the bark. The colony is a few centimetres across, with individual shoots only a few millimetres long. The leaves are arranged in two rows and overlap like tiny rounded tiles, giving the plant a softly scalloped, layered appearance. Intermixed with this are darker, more reddish-brown patches of another liverwort, forming tighter, slightly shinier shoots consistent with Dilated Scalewort (Frullania dilatata). Also present are narrower, strap-like green ribbons of a thallose liverwort, likely Forked Veilwort (Metzgeria furcata), lying flatter and more translucent against the bark. Also present is a small Ulota moss species. Together, these plants form a mixed bryophyte community on the exposed wood, sharing the same damp surface and light.
A low, ground-level view of a Bird’s-claw Beard-moss (Barbula unguiculata) colony forming a continuous golden patch across a sandy footpath. The compacted soil is scattered with small pale shell fragments. Numerous upright yellow stalks (setae) rise densely from the colony, each carrying a narrow brown capsule, giving the surface a warm golden colour. The shoots are only a few millimetres tall, forming a tight, low turf. Leaves are tongue-shaped (lingulate), with a strong central nerve (costa) that extends beyond the leaf tip as a short point (excurrent). Some leaves show slightly rolled margins (recurved). The background is softly blurred, with the golden moss patch extending into the distance, beyond which are scrub and the rear of a blue a building. The scene shows a bryophyte thriving in a disturbed, sandy, shell-influenced habitat.
Moss bryophyte forming a dense, upright tuft on dry sandy ground at the edge of coastal scrub grassland, Marram grass (Ammophila ) is behind it, a bramble (Rubus fructicosus) branch from the previous year passes above it. The colony spreads a few centimetres across, rising from pale, gritty sand with other low plants around it. Shoots grow close together and stand upright before bending, with long narrow leaves all curving strongly to one side, giving a swept or wind-shaped appearance. The outer parts appear yellow-green to golden in the light, while inner shoots are deeper green where more sheltered. Leaves are slender and tapering, concave and without visible hairpoints, and create a soft, brush-like texture across the surface. Found in an exposed, free-draining habitat near the sea.
A moss (bryophyte) forming a dense tuft on sandy ground in coastal grassland at Dawlish Warren. The colony is several centimetres across, made up of many upright shoots packed closely together. Each shoot carries narrow green leaves that taper to a fine, pale reddish hairpoint at the tip. In the first image the shoots stand fresh and bright, slightly waxy green, sheltered by taller plants; in another image some more exposed shoots appear much greyer and more curled, showing how the plant changes as it dries. The moss grows among short grasses and low herbs that thrive on nutrient-poor soil, including Buck’s-horn Plantain (Plantago coronopus), on sandy, well-drained ground close to the sea, in an exposed habitat with periodic drying and salt-laden wind. Under magnification, the leaves show parallel ridges (lamellae) running along their surface, a defining feature of haircap mosses (Polytrichum). The leaf tips show very small teeth near the apex, while the margins otherwise appear smooth (entire); the leaves are also strongly inrolled. These features are consistent with Juniper Haircap (Polytrichum juniperinum).
Dark green Moss (bryophyte) growing on the bark of an elder tree in a Devon woodland. Forms loose, feathery green mats with slender shoots trailing outward.
A small cluster of Capillary Threadmoss (Bryum capillare), a bryophyte, grows from a crevice in a rough, pale limestone wall in Devon. Several slender reddish setae (spore stalks) rise upward from the moss cushion, each around 1–2 cm tall. At the tips, elongated green capsules hang slightly inclined. Several are covered by an orange cap (calyptra), indicating developing sporophytes; the capsules are smooth and slightly tapered. At the base, the moss forms a dense, bright green cushion of short upright shoots. The leaves are approximately 2–3 mm long, tear-drop shaped with a fine hairpoint (awn). Some shoots show a slight corkscrew twist. To the left, leaves of Ivy-leaved Toadflax (Cymbalaria muralis) emerge from the rock crevice, their soft green contrasting with the fine vertical lines of the moss sporophytes. A frond of Rustyback fern (Asplenium ceterach) provides additional scale. The rock surface is textured and weathered, with patches of yellow lichen scattered across it. The background falls into soft blur, suggesting a shaded, sheltered wall habitat.
A dense tuft of Brook-side Feathermoss (Hygroamblystegium fluviatile) fills the right side of the image, growing over a dark, damp rock surface. The shoots form a loose but layered mat, branching irregularly and overlapping. Individual shoots are around 1–1.5 cm long, with leaves approximately 1 mm in length. The leaves are ovate to lance-shaped, concave, and arranged along the stems in a slightly spreading pattern, giving the moss a softly feathery appearance. The colour ranges from bright green to green-gold, with the tips catching the light and appearing more vivid, while the lower layers sit in shadow. The surface appears moist, and the structure of the mat suggests it is adapted to hold water as it creeps over the rock. The background falls away into soft blur, hinting at the surrounding streamside habitat.
The scene is set in a sunken lane in Devon. A narrow path runs beside a shallow stream flowing over limestone, with banks about 2 metres high on either side. These banks are built of soil and stone and are thickly covered in moss (bryophytes), rising into shade cast by mature trees above. On one of these damp banks, the image shows a close view of a pale green leafy liverwort (a bryophyte) forming a soft mat about 4–6 cm across among darker bryophytes. The shoots lie flattened along the surface, with rounded leaves arranged in rows along each stem, giving a layered but not overlapping appearance. Each leaf is about 1.2 mm long and 1 mm wide, with a pair of small, divergent teeth at the tip. Scattered across the colony are numerous tiny yellow-green spheres (gemmae) raised on short upright stalks, standing slightly above the leaves like small beads or lamps.
Close view of bright green shoots of Blunt Feather-moss (Homalia trichomanoides), a bryophyte growing on shale in a shaded rocky outcrop in Devon woodland. The shoots are about 1 cm long at this stage and hang slightly downward. The leaves are arranged flat in a single plane along each stem, overlapping like tiles and giving a glossy, wet appearance. Each leaf is broad with a rounded tip and a faint central line (nerve) running about halfway down. The shoot ends in a flattened, rounded tip. The surface catches the light, making the leaves shine and appear reflective. This forms part of a larger mat.
A bright green leafy liverwort (bryophyte) forming a dense mat across the upper surface of a small rock in a shallow woodland stream. The rock sits mid-channel, with softly blurred flowing water to the left of the image. The liverwort spreads outward in overlapping shoots, each only a few millimetres long, creating a low, irregular carpet across the rock surface, roughly the size of a hand. Individual shoots show paired leaves arranged in two rows along the stem, giving a flattened appearance. The leaf tips are divided into two small pointed lobes (bifid), with slightly toothed edges that catch the light. The leaves overlap like tiny tiles, holding moisture, and appear slightly translucent and glossy where wet. Other darker green bryophytes are interwoven beneath and around the colony, but the Bifid Crestwort stands out as a fresher, brighter green layer on top. The scene is partially shaded, with light filtering in and reflecting softly off the wet leaves and nearby water, emphasising the hydrated, thriving condition of the plant. Liverworts, moss, and hornworts are all bryophytes, small plants that live where moisture lingers.
Close view of Wall Screw-moss (Tortula muralis), a moss (bryophyte) forming a rounded cushion in a crack of a stone wall. A jutting piece of the wall runs diagonally across the image, rough and grey, with the moss growing out from a narrow crevice. The cushion is bright green and hydrated from light mist, with one or two small water droplets visible. Around fifty slender reddish stalks (setae) rise vertically from the cushion, each topped with a small capsule (sporangium), many still covered by a small hood (calyptra), some upright and some slightly angled. The cushion is formed of small rosettes with tongue-shaped (lingulate) leaves, about 2–3.5 mm long, green, with long silvery-white hair-points (excurrent nerve) extending from the rounded tip. The colony spans an area roughly the width of a thumb, with dense shoots packed closely together, creating a soft, tufted texture against the hard stone.
A bright-green moss (bryophyte) forming a dense, rounded cushion on the ground among leaf litter and small twigs in woodland. The colony is about 9 cm across, rising as a soft dome above the surrounding debris. The surface is made up of many tightly packed upright shoots, each forming a small rosette of overlapping leaves, giving the appearance of miniature green roses clustered together. Leaves are broad, smooth, and slightly concave, layered in spirals around each stem. Many leaves end in fine, pale hair-like tips (awn), visible as delicate points extending beyond the leaf surface. No capsules are visible.
A low woodland view across a soft carpet of bright green moss covering a fallen log. The moss forms a short, velvety layer only a few millimetres tall, spreading smoothly across the wood like living felt. Rising above the surface are many slender reddish stalks, moss sporophytes, each topped with a small green capsule where spores develop. The capsules lean slightly in different directions, giving the scene the appearance of a miniature forest of delicate stems growing above the mossy carpet. The background woodland fades into gentle blur, suggesting damp shaded habitat where moss and other bryophytes thrive on decaying wood.
A thick branch runs horizontally across the image, heavily draped in lush green moss forming a soft, feathery bryophyte carpet. The shoots hang downward in layered strands like tiny green tassels, suggesting a pleurocarpous woodland moss growing on bark. Rising above the moss are several slender reddish stalks tipped with small brown capsules, the spore-bearing structures (sporophytes) of the moss. The moss colony covers the branch like a living blanket. Behind it, the woodland fades into soft blur: tall tree trunks, tangled branches, and dappled light filtering through the forest. The scene captures the miniature forest architecture of moss and bryophytes thriving on damp wood in a shaded woodland habitat.
Macro photograph of Springy Turf Moss (Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus), a moss bryophyte forming a dense colony among blades of lawn grass in Devon. The yellowish-green moss grows in upright shoots that can reach around 10 cm tall, though here only the upper tips are visible between the grass stems. Each shoot rises from a reddish stem, and the pointed leaves bend sharply backwards at almost right angles, so that each shoot ends in a tiny soft star of pale yellow-green leaves. The many shoots crowd together into a thick carpet beneath the grass. When walked on, colonies of this moss feel soft and springy underfoot, giving the lawn a spongy texture. Dew droplets cling to the grass blades and moss tips, catching the light so that the surface appears bright, soft, and faintly glittering, scattered with dozens of miniature star shapes.
Macro photograph of a liverwort bryophyte, Forked Veilwort (Metzgeria furcata), showing narrow forked green thalli forming a small tangled mat. The flattened shoots branch repeatedly into slender ribbon-like strands about 1 mm wide. Many of these ribbons extend downward together, hanging like a delicate green fringe, with each strand dividing again and again into fine forks. Along the central midrib of several ribbons are small green oblong swellings, developing sporophytes enclosed within tiny protective hoods called shoot-calyptrae. Under magnification these hoods appear faintly hairy, with delicate hair-like projections giving them a soft, slightly fuzzy outline. As they mature the calyptrae darken, becoming brownish compared with the surrounding bright green thallus. Scattered among them are pale star-like remnants, likely empty calyptrae left after earlier sporophytes matured. The image shows several stages of the liverwort reproductive structures emerging directly from the surface of the ribbon-like thallus.
Two old coppiced hazel trees rise from thick moss-covered bases, their trunks splitting upward into clusters of slender stems. The moss spreads over the roots and lower wood like a soft green cloak. Between the two trees is a natural opening that feels almost like a doorway into the woodland beyond. Sunlight filters through branches overhead, lighting the moss so it glows bright green against the darker bark. Ferns and fresh spring plants grow at the mossy base of the trunks, and the narrow gap between them draws the eye inward as if inviting the viewer to step quietly into the woodland.
A bright green moss bryophyte growing as a loose patch on damp soil and decaying wood beside a woodland stream. The shoots rise upright in small clusters, each bearing rounded oval leaves that spread like tiny spoons around the stem. Individual leaves are only a few millimetres across and appear glossy with water droplets. Several darker stalks with developing capsules (sporophytes) are visible among the leaves, hinting at the “dotted” appearance that gives Dotted Thyme-moss (Rhizomnium punctatum) its common name. The surrounding scene includes other mosses, small woodland plants, and mossy wet leaf litter in a shaded Devon woodland.
Forked veilwort liverwort (Metzgeria furcata) growing on rough bark of an old tree. Other mature trees are in the distance. The liverwort forms a loose green patch made of many narrow flat ribbons (thalli) spreading across the bark. Each ribbon repeatedly divides into two equal forks, creating a branching pattern that looks like small antlers or delicate green streamers. The thalli of this bryophyte are translucent bright green when wet, with smooth edges and rounded tips. Some branches overlap and layer slightly over each other, forming a thin mat across the bark surface. tinyurl.com/ywv2xvm4
A close view of a tiny liverwort bryophyte growing along a slender fallen twig in a damp Devon woodland. The twig runs diagonally across the image and is densely covered by a soft green mat of very small leafy shoots. Each shoot creeps closely along the surface of the wood and hangs slightly over the sides, forming layered fronds only a few millimetres wide. The colony itself is small, about 2 cm across. The leaves are closely packed and overlap like tiny roof tiles. Each leaf is rounded to oval and translucent fresh green, giving the patch a soft luminous appearance in the woodland light. Many leaves show a slight fold or pocket near their base that creates a small forward-facing flap. These pocket-like structures are subtle in the photograph but become clearer when the plant is examined under a microscope. The shoots lie mostly in two flattened rows along the stem, producing a delicate branching pattern that spreads across the twig and drapes slightly over its underside. Beneath the main patch a few slender shoots of a feathery moss hang downward, their thin leaves forming narrow green sprays that contrast with the broader rounded leaves of the liverwort. The background is softly blurred woodland — muted greens and browns suggesting bark, moss, and shaded vegetation. Moisture and shade are implied by the fresh colour and the dense bryophyte growth covering the wood. Under the microscope the leaves reveal hexagonal cells and small pocket-like lobules.
Close photograph of a bright green liverwort bryophyte, Crescent-cup Liverwort (Lunularia cruciata), growing in a small patch on damp bare soil beside a woodland path. The plant forms flat rounded plates called a thallus rather than stems and leaves. Several of these plates overlap on the soil surface. On top of it sit distinctive crescent-shaped cups (gemma cups) with raised rims. Inside the cups are clusters of tiny green discs called gemmae, these are small clones of the parent plant. When rain falls into the cups it splashes the gemmae out onto nearby soil where they grow into new plants. The thallus surface appears smooth and slightly glossy, with a faint speckled pattern from tiny air pores. The liverwort grows among small moss shoots and damp soil particles on the shaded woodland floor.
Close photographs of the moss Rhizomnium punctatum (dotted thyme-moss) growing on a damp woodland stream bank. The bryophyte forms loose mats of upright shoots that at this stage are about 2–3 cm tall. Very young shoots look rounded from above, like tiny green bubbles. As the plants mature the shoots open out and some develop terminal rosettes of leaves that resemble small green flowers. The leaves are broad and rounded, at first shaped like tiny green spoons, (later opening out to a more flattened shape). They are smooth-edged and glossy when wet, and droplets of water sit in these tiny basins that briefly hold water after rain, helping maintain humidity around the shoot. Some rosette shoots show a reddish midrib. Several slender reddish stalks (setae) rise above the moss, each carrying an elongated oval capsule where spores are produced. The capsules have lost their beaked lids, and the rim shows two rings of tiny teeth that help release spores. Under the microscope the leaves appear round to elliptical with smooth margins and no teeth. The leaf edge has a distinct border made of two to three rows of different cells, forming a pale margin that makes the edge look slightly thickened. A central nerve (costa) runs up the leaf but stops just below the tip. #moss #bryophyte
Close-up of Great Scented Liverwort (Conocephalum conicum), a liverwort bryophyte, growing on damp soil beside a woodland brook. Bright green flat lobed thalli spread across the bank, each surface marked with a striking mosaic of small polygon patterns. This liverwort releases a citrus scent when gently rubbed.
Sunlit woodland bank covered in bright green moss (a bryophyte). Fox-tail Feather-moss (Thamnobryum alopecurum) forms lush draping growth over a sloping bank at the base of a tree, the shoots rising and branching like tiny green trees or soft fox-tail plumes. Nearby a Hart’s-tongue fern (Asplenium scolopendrium) grows with long strap-shaped fronds. Winter sunlight filters through bare woodland branches in the background.
Close-up woodland floor scene among moss (a bryophyte). A pale lace-like skeletonised leaf lies across a dark decaying leaf, the fine network of veins still intact while the softer leaf tissue has disappeared. Bright green feathery moss surrounds it, with a small woodland seedling and a catkin nearby.
Bright green moss (bryophyte) growing in a damp, semi-shaded woodland swamp on a rotting log near a brook. The shoots are flattened and glossy, approximately 50 mm long and up to about 7 mm wide, looking almost as if pressed in a flower book. Leaves are large for a moss (around 1.5–3 mm), oval with blunt tips, translucent, and without a central nerve (costa). Under the microscope the leaf cells are unusually large and easy to see. Several dark, stout spore capsules were present. Under the microscope one capsule (spore case) had lost its lid and showed a neat ring of curved outer teeth with finer inner structures just inside (a double peristome). Initially mistaken for a leafy liverwort because of its flat appearance, but under the microscope tiny leaves could be seen arranged around the stem, it was not as two-dimensional as it first appeared. #moss #bryophyte
Close-up of a rounded cushion of Grey-cushioned Grimmia (Grimmia pulvinata) growing on a stone wall in Devon. The small green leaves are wide at the base and narrow to long, clear, hair-like tips (hyaline hairpoints) that catch fine rain and guide water toward the centre. The leaves curve inward like tiny scoops (concave leaves). A thick spore case (sporangium or capsule) sits low among the upper leaves on a short stalk (seta). The pale tips form a soft halo around the dome.
A small, dark green clump of Common Pocket-moss (Fissidens taxifolius), about 5 cm across, growing on damp shaded soil. The shoots are flattened and resemble tiny fern fronds. Leaves are arranged in two neat rows along each stem. The midrib (costa) runs centrally through each leaf and extends slightly beyond the blade tip as a short, firm point (an excurrent stout cusp). At the base of each leaf is a small sheathing “pocket” (vaginant lamina) clasping the stem.