I found a large patch of Brachythecium populeum on a Hazel branch at Carmel today on which all of the sporophytes were half the size of the usual ones on that species. The leaves etc were relatively small too. I did wonder whether it might be Rhynchostegiella litorea, but the unbeaked capsule indicates it isn't. Very odd!
The Brachytheciaceae are hard enough as it is - the last thing we need is variation like this to complicate things further! Sam, I know you've mentioned in the past that the key and illustrations in Smith have a few technical issues, so was wondering if there is an alternative key that might be helpful?
ReplyDeleteThe illustrations of B mildeanum and B rutabulum basal cells are transposed in one edition of Smith, but I can't remember which off the top of my head. The European book (Frey, Frahm & Blockeel http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Liverworts-Mosses-Ferns-Europe/dp/0946589704) is probably the best alternative. The new Swedish Flora (http://www.nhbs.com/title/199519/the-encyclopedia-of-the-swedish-flora-and-fauna-bladmossor-skirmossor-baronmossor-swedish) is by the outstandingly good Lars Hedenas and has bilingual keys, but unlike the other two volumes lacks English summaries.
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