Monday 19 October 2015

Bryum alpinum and other forest track species in Neath Port Talbot

 Bryum alpinum is one of a number of interesting species associated with forestry tracks; e.g. see Sam's forestry track list for Carms in post above.

Bryum alpinum, forestry road Cwm Corrwg Forestry

Some of the other,more common forestry track species in NPT include: Barbula unguiculata, Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Calliergonella cuspidataCtenidium molluscumDichodontium pellucidum, Dichodontium palustre, Dicranella varia, Didymodon fallax, Jungermannia gracillimaNardia scalarisPhilonotis fontanaPogonatum urnigerum, Pohlia wahlenbergii, Sphagnum denticulatum, S. fimbriatum, S.inundatum and Trichostomum crispulum. Less common, but nevertheless associated with forest tracks are: Calliergonella lindbergii, Campyliadelphus chrysophyllusCampylium stellatum, Didymodon ferrugineus, Ditrichum gracile, Encalypta streptocarpa  and Oligotrichum hercynicum. Compared to other inland habitats in NPT, forest tracks have a disproportionate number of base-loving species, which is also evident in their flowering plant diversity. Interestingly, there is also a suite of fungi (e.g. Lacrymaria velutina, Lyophyllum connatumMelastiza cornubiensis, Melanoleuca polioleuca, Pholiota gummosa), and lichens (e.g. Collema spp.) associated with these tracks and of course the ubiquitous occurrence of colonial Nostoc. It's a new ecology.

3 comments:

  1. That's an intriguing one Charles. For ref we have 62 records of D.p.(s.s.), of which only about 6 appear to have any reference to capsules being present. We then have 86 records of D.p. (s.l.) and just 6 records of D.f.

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  2. Those capsules look a lot like Barbula unguiculata, and I wonder whether that might be a mixed collection.

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  3. Luckily I took a small sample, because you are dead right Sam. A handful of interlopers cunningly mixed in with Dichodontium. At least I don't have to edit all my forestry records now. I should have recognised those capsules!
    I'll edit the post appropriately.

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