The Bryophyte Challenge!
An introduction to recognisable
Bryophyte species of Urban Parks
• Introduction:
 This introduction will cover Bryophytes and pick on 11 species easily
identifiable, under-recorded and often found hidden away in Urban
parks and gardens.
• Search and Find:
 Using your newly discovered identification skills and passion for
Bryophytes we will head into the park to see them in their natural
environment.
• Identification and Q & A:
 After collecting samples in the field we will bring them back to MBB
for examination and to further describe key features this can then be
followed by discussion & questions.
What is a Bryophyte!?
• They are small, (mostly) green, non-flowering plants! Often
referred to as “lower plants”.
• There Three ‘Groups’ (Hornworts (4), Liverworts (300),
Mosses (763)*).
• They reproduce by spores and/or vegetatively including
through the use of gemmae and tubers.
Liverworts
• Liverworts rarely have leaf nerves and produce spores
differently to mosses (i.e. they produce them from side splitting
capsules on translucent stalks)
• The can be grouped into two categories
leafy-liverworts: marked stem and leaves.
thallose Liverworts: no distinct stem or leaves.
Mosses
• Many more mosses than Liverworts, they are more typically
‘plant-like’ and produce their spores from capsules (like seedpods) that open at the end.
• Mosses can also be grouped into 2 categories:
acrocarps: species that grow upright with capsules
from the top of the stem.
pleurocarps: species that grow in a spreading fashion
often forming mats with capsules from the sides of
main stems.
Why bother with Bryophytes?
• The British Isles are fantastic for them
 The conditions of Britain and Ireland make them prime habitats for
Bryophyte species with around two thirds of all European species being
found here in comparison with only around a sixth of all European
flowering plants and ferns, giving us not only fantastic Bryophyte diversity
but making us home to some globally rare species.
• They are under-represented!
 So few naturalists study Bryophytes in comparison with flowering plants
and ferns that it is very easy to contribute important and previously
unknown information as to the distribution, life-cycle and general
understanding of our Bryoflora.
• They are accessible
 One of the best things for an amateur naturalists who is interested in
learning a new group; Bryophytes are visible and accessible all year round
on top of that they wont run, fly or swim away from you!
So where do I start?
• Take up the challenge!
• Remember they are not as complex as they may first
appear..
• Go out and take a look
• Start to build up your own reference collection
Get to know some Court Hey
Species
11 Species of Parkland
Bryophyte
Some species of moss and liverwort
that can be found around the Court
Hey Park
Lophocolea bidentata / heterophylla – 194 records
•
Also known as the Bifid and Crescent leaved Crestworts
leafy liverworts, distinctive because of their size and leafy
appearance, with shoots often several centimetres long,
often found woven in with grasses and other Bryophytes
Habitat: Areas of un-disturbed Damp, shaded and
moist grassland, also on rocks, plants and heathland in the
right conditions.
Lunularia cruciata
• Also known as the Crescent-cup Liverwort
A thallose liverwort, similar in appearance to Marchantia polymorpha with the
exception of its crescent moon shaped gemmae cups.
This liverwort can form extensive mats.
Habitat: L. cruciata favours damp and shaded habitat, in particular bare surfaces. It can
often be found growing low on brick walls
where it is shaded behind larger plants.
Marchantia polymorpha
•
The Common Liverwort (subsp. ruderalis) and Star-headed Liverwort (subsp.
polymorpha)
This thallose liverwort can form large mats on almost
any bare surface, the subspecies can be separated
easily by looking at the ‘midrib’, ruderalis has a dotted
line, while polymorpha has a broad complete line both
produce a cylindrical gemmae cup with jagged edges.
Habitat: often makes use of man made habitats often being found along the joins of
paving stones or almost any other urban bare ground or earth.
Kindbergia praelonga
•
The Common Feather-moss
One of our commonest mosses its most recognisable feature’s are the wider steam
leaves (which give the stem a fattened look) and the regular pinnate branching.
Habitat: This species occurs regularly in parks and grassland amongst turf and forming
loose carpets over woodland often climbing the bases of trees generally favouring
sheltered fairly damp conditions.
Tortula muralis
•
Or Wall Screw-moss
One of the smaller distinct mosses forming small tufts or with distinctive silvery nerve
from a leaf that curls when dry and a slim pointed capsule held high on a orange seta
when visible the capsule teeth are tightly twisted.
Habitat: This moss favours base-rich environments, often in urban areas this takes the
form of old brick mortar but will also use concrete, roof tiles etc..
Grimmia pulvinata
•
Grey-cushioned Grimmia (or Grey-pincushion)
Not to be confused with T. muralis! Forms larger and much denser cushions but also
with silvery nerve the capsules confirm as they are small and rounded on a seta that
bends back into the plant.
Habitat: Often found alongside T. muralis and
favours similar habitat and so is often found
along the mortar of brick walls or on base-rich
boulders.
Campylopus introflexus
•
Heath Star-moss
A tall distinctive species forming dark green patches that
lighten towards the tips, when dry the shoots are tightly closed
with the silver hair point bent back at the tip of the shoot,
when wet the leaves at the head spread to form a star-burst.
Habitat: In urban areas this species can most regularly be found
In plant pots or on rotting tree stumps, posts and other dead wood.
Bryum argenteum
•
Silver-moss
A very urban species, this moss benefits from nitrate enrichment and flourishes in
disturbed habitats, also very distinctive, forming small pale green cylindrical shoots
with silver/white tips.
Habitat: pavement cracks, compact and disturbed ground at the edges of tracks and
paths, plant pots, sand-dunes, stream or river banks.
Bryum capillare
•
Capillary Thread-moss
When wet this species has an almost star or flower-like
look from above, however when dry the leaves curl
tightly and the shoot looks a little like a thread..
The leaf tip extends into a short hair and the moss
regularly produces capsules.
Habitat: This moss is very common and
widespread and can be found in almost any
habitat growing on any substrate to various
sizes.
Calliergonella cuspidata
•
Pointed Spear-moss
One of the more recognisable species with a leaves that curl together at the end of
the shoot or branch to form sharp points, the branches themselves are irregular.
Habitat: commonly found in wetland habitats but can occur in almost any situation
where wet enough, such as waterlogged turf or soil.
Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus
•
Springy Turf-moss
Highly distinctive moss, grows in amongst grasses and other mosses, it is irregularly
branched and covered in leaves that bend sharply back on themselves. The head of
the shoot spreads to become star-like which is noticeable even from a distance.
Habitat: Various grassland, especially where slightly
sheltered and damp can form extensive patches.