More Ulota on rock

Following Barry's recent post, I thought it was worth posting some photos of Ulota bruchii growing on a sandstone block on the northern part of Merthyr Common in March 2015. The rock was situated in an exposed moorland position and the Ulota came as quite a surprise. There were three cushions in total, two of which are visible within the large patch of black lichen in the photo below.

Ulota bruchii growing on an exposed sandstone block

Close up of one of the U. bruchii cushions

A whole (U)lotta fun

Flora Briofitica Iberica Vol V, which was published last summer/autumn, moves us on several steps in Ulota identification.  This was covered by Dr Francisco (Paco) Lara at the BBS Orthotrichum workshop too.  FBI separates U. crispula from U. crispa, but another species Ulota intermedia is about to be described so British bryologists aren't yet being officially told about the crispula split in anticipation of further work.  You have probably all seen U. crispula as it is pretty common in lowland areas: it's the very short-capsuled Ulota with relatively un-furrowed dry capsules whereas U. crispa has deeply furrowed capsules as in the picture below.  The third species U intermedia is more like crispula but is northern and upland - I have a candidate from Brechfa Forest which is being examined in Spain.  So, please try to collect representative Ulota from Glamorgan just in case.  Paco reckoned that U bruchii is so distinct in its narrow mouths that one scarcely needs to think about it!