Loch Sunart

During our trip to Scotland last week I was only able to squeeze in a little bit of bryologising. An hour and half in one of the famous ravines at Loch Sunart was quite a special experience even though it was pouring down, as it was most of our trip. I have a modest selection of unrecognised samples to go through, but it was good to see at least one instantly recognisable species - Herbertus aduncus (Juniper Prongwort).

Also scattered shoots of Anastrepta orcadensis (Orkney Notchwort) were found growing amongst the clumps of Herbertus aduncus.

Lots of Mylia taylorii (Taylor's Flapwort), most frequent on trees bases.

Odontoschisma denudatum (Matchstick Flapwort), locally frequent on decorticated logs.

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.