Riccarda latifrons on Sitka logs (again)

Riccardia latifrons on Sitka Spruce Log, Afan Forest Park

Apical portion of Riccardia latifrons leaf

Third record for Glamorgan (I think) and second for NPT. Like Barry's earlier record for Crynant Forest this colony was on a Sitka Spruce log. This was in the Argoed Valley, above the Visitors Centre. Elsewhere in the park (Pelenna Valley) we recently had logs with Riccardia  chamedryfolia and R. palmata. Common associates on decorticated Sitka logs include Nowellia curvifolia (often abundant), Lophocolea bidentata, L. heterophylla,  Campylopus flexuosus, Tetraphis pellucida, Cephalozia bicuspidata, Diplophyllum albicans and Lepidozia reptans. 

Riccardia latifrons is probably more widespread in South Wales than we think, even though it may not be very common- there's a lot of Sitka logs out there!

And if your looking at Sitka logs, you'll probably see some nice fungi, particularly Stagshorns e.g. Calocera viscosa and C. pallidospathulata ........ sorry, couldn't resist it.

Calocera viscosa

Calocera pallidospathulata

Bog Germanderwort

Yesterday I spent 1½ hours recording in a coniferous plantation through which the Nant Meurig gently cascades down towards Tre-Forgan, in what is largely an obtuse valley. The river bank was horribly Bramble-dominated in places, my thin trousers providing almost no protection, resulting in two very scratched and bloody legs! Anyway, with additional records from tracks, tarmac, etc., the square total of SN70Y was raised from 51 to 88. In contrast to the all the highlights of the previous day, things were generally more mundane, although Nowellia curvifolia was wonderfully abundant, covering logs (mostly conifers) and fallen branches everywhere. A Riccardia growing amongst Nowellia on a couple of logs (approximate location arrowed above) seemed an odd occurrence and I was pleasantly surprised to discover it keyed out as R. latifrons; the rather common name of Bog Germanderwort seemed somewhat inappropriate, but apparently it is occasionally associated with Nowellia on logs. Under the microscope, the lack of oil bodies and obliquely angled marginal cells look to be diagnostic. There is only one other Glamorgan record, made by Sam in 2014 at Hirwaun, though no habitat details are given. The scratched legs are now a pleasant reminder of an unexpected find! [Just noted Sam's post of latifrons in Brechfa last year, see HERE]

Brechfa valley yesterday

A half hour wander in a previously unexplored valley in the forestry a couple of miles from home (there are lots of similar ones here!) produced the bryophilous fungus Octospora rubens and the first Brechfa Forest record of Riccardia latifrons.  The latter was growing over Nowellia on a log and a conifer stump, and had no oil bodies when microscoped.  The walk also gave a few photos for me to Tweat, as I've just joined that scary world @sambbryo!

No Riccardia in this patch...