Thursday 15 January 2015

Meirionydd fun

A daytrip to Meirionydd involved visits to three waterfalls/streams.  The nicest was a couple of km from the famous Coed Ganllwyd - Wales' top oceanic ravine - and although it didn't live up to its neighbour's richness it did hold plenty of lovely bryophytes.  These included Jamesoniella autumnalis (photo) on an old Birch, Mylia taylori (photo) on a rotting log, Lepidozia pearsonii (photo) on a mossy slope, locally frequent Plagiochila punctata, P. spinulosa and P. bifaria, abundant Bazzania trilobata and Dicranodontium denudatum, Hygrobiella laxifolia and Jungermannia paroica by the stream, Blepharostoma trichophyllum on a rockface, and probably best of all a few shoots of Tritomaria exsecta on a rotting log.  The lack of tiny Lejeuneaceae and Sematophyllum demissum was a disappointment, but it's a surprisingly long rocky valley and I only had an hour there.





6 comments:

  1. What an exceptional area that is. Mouth-watering stuff Sam.

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  2. Hmm indeed. Several species there that I've not even heard of!

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  3. That area is definitely on my bucket list!

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  4. Just Googled Coed Ganllwyd Nature Reserve and the SHOW ME MID-WALES website states 'The wet climate that feeds the falls also provides the moist conditions in the gorge to make this the richest site for mosses and liveworts in north west Europe. The rocks and treetrunks are festooned with the green and grey growths of these lowly plants.'
    I'm guessing this is a slight over-exaggeration, but nevertheless sounds a great place to visit. Are there any maps/reports available to help a visiting bryologist? Not necessarily to enable a tick and twitch of everything, more so you end up at the most interesting spots.

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  5. I'd suggest a 'cooks tour' is your best option. I'm keen to visit again some time in search of Leptoscyphus cuneifolius and other species... It has easy parking and a phenomenal abundance of notable species, particularly Sematophyllum demissum and the small Lejeuneaceae.

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  6. Sounds great idea - any dates in mind?

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