Holiday Bryophytes - lots of leskeas

Alpine habitat, La Tofane

We were in the Dolomites in July this year, our third visit to this fabulous mountain range in Northern Italy. Most of our attention was paid to the spectacular alpine flowering plants but we did note a few bryophytes.
 The subalpine forests have an extraordinary abundance of Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus and Hylocomium splendens (and lots of orchids, including Lady's Slipper) in stark contrast to our local, acidic Sitka forests with their abundant carpets of Rhytidiadelphus loreus. 

Rhytidiadephus triquetrus and Hylocomium splendens in spruce forest near Cortina

The geology is predominantly limestone and lots of typical calcicole bryophytes are represented plus some really nice mountain species that are rare in Britain. In the province of Belluno, between Cortina D'Ampezzo and the Falzarego Pass, some excellent trails took us above tree-line into alpine tundra where there were wallcreeper.  In the rocky tundra below La Tofane Ptychodium plicatum (Plaited Leskea) was growing with Saxifraga oppositifolia (Purple Saxifrage) on some sheltered limestone boulders. 

Ptychodium plicatum and Saxifraga oppositifolia, la Tofane

H and Mark on Wallcreeper twitch above Falzarego Pass

On a hike to the Rifugio Locatelli from the famous Tre Cime di Lavaredo we encountered small parties of snow finches flitting about rocks covered with Pseudoleskea incurvata.  Later, in the mountains above Selva in the Val Gardena we found some Pseudoleskea patens (Patent Leskea) which gave us a good opportunity to compare these very similar species. In the end we had to bring samples home to examine the shape of the mid-leaf cells to confirm their identities.

Pseudoleskea incurvata with Salix herbacea (Dwarf Willow) near Rifugio Lavaredo

Pseudoleskea patens, Selva

The short walk to Baita Monzoni in the Val San Nicolo near Pozza di Fassa follows a forest road through a moist, mossy subalpine forest. Bartramia halleriana (Haller's Apple-moss) and Campyllophyllum halleri (Haller's Feather-moss) were on the base rich rocks here - the latter is a Red DataBook moss in the UK. Nearby on a large limestone boulder at the side of the road we noted a large, striking mat of Pterigynandrum filiforme (Capillary Wing-moss). From Monzoni the trail climbs up, eventually, to the Pas de la Sele and allows access to an outstanding alpine flora which includes lots of saxifrages (e.g. the endemic Saxifraga depressa) and other nice things like Papaver rhaeticum (Alpine Poppy), Phyteuma sieberi (Sieber's Rampion), Primula glutinosa (Sticky Primrose) and Ranunculus glacialis (Glacier Crowfoot).

Bartramia halleriana near Baita Monzoni

Bartramia halleriana with capsules

Campylophyllum halleri near Baita Monzoni

Pterigynandrum filiforme on a boulder near Baita Monzoni

Pterigynandrum filiforme Baita Monzoni

On a trip to Sottogudo we walked along a narrow road through a spectacular gorge where  Orthothecium rufescens (Red Leskea) was hanging from dripping limestone outcrops. There were some nice clumps of Selaginella helvetica here too. 

Orthothecium rufescens, Sottogudo Gorge

Orthothecium rufescens, Sottogudo Gorge

Selaginella helvetica, Sottogudo Gorge

Although the landscape of the Dolomites is dominated by limestone there are some extensive cliffs and outcrops of more acidic igneous rock which support a different flora, e.g. on and around Forcia Neigra near Alba. Our attention was stolen by some nice cushions of Eritrichium nanum (King-or-the-Alps) but we also noticed some conspicuous dark cushions of Grimmia montana (Sun Grimmia).

Grimmia montana, Forcia Neigra

Heath Park, Cardiff

An hour spent poking about in Heath Park, in an attempt to top up the species list for tetrad ST17U, produced little of interest until I looked at the muddy pond at ST176798. A mud-filled crevice on top of a log at the pond margin revealed a nice patch of Aphanorrhegma patens.

Aphanorrhegma patens site

On Sunday morning I popped up to the site in ST1185 where Julian found the Aphanorrhegma patens. Sure enough it was widespread across the wetter, barer patches in the field shown in the photo below, along with abundant Riccia sorocarpa.

Various Persicaria were abundant and quite confusing. I could certainly see some plants of Small Water-pepper (P. minor)  among the commoner species, but was unsure about Tasteless Water-pepper (P. mitis). Julian and Tim Rich think they have some good candidate material for the latter from this same field, but it requires confirmation.

Tiny moss query

I attended the Glamorgan Botany Group excursion to Gwaelod-y-garth on Sunday, but had to leave at lunchtime. I therefore missed the best finds of the day, both Persicaria minor and mitis found growing by a seasonal pool near the Taff in the afternoon.


Julian Woodman brought back a clod of earth from the same area as he had noticed a crystalwort growing in abundance. This proved to be Riccia sorocarpa, but the clod also contained plants of Trichodon cylindricus, Tortula truncata and a tiny, fruiting moss which I can't work out - see photo below (the Riccia gives an idea of how small it is). The leaves are strongly toothed and translucent. The round, brownish capsules are on very short setae.

I'll get some microscope photos if it's not possible to work out the species from the above. Thanks.

Lejeunea patens (Pearl Pouncewort)

Lejeunea patens is uncommon in VC41. As far as I can tell, the most recent record was made by Sam and Graham (2010) for Sgwd Gwladys in the Pyrddin Valley, where it grows as an epiphyte on Oak. The only other records (1960s) are for Craig y Llyn, where it grows on rock. So it was nice to find these plants growing as epiphytes on willow in the conifer plantation above Pentreclwydau (between Resolven and Glyn Neath).
Lejeunea patens has a distinctive, large lobule that makes a sharp, acute angle with the leaf, which differentiates it from the much more common L. lamacerina (the most common Lejeunea in NPT).

Lejeunea cavifolia has smaller lobules, but the 2 species are best distinguished by their cellular oil bodies. While cavifolia usually has a large number (25+) of small oil bodies, patens has few (up to 8) and they are larger.

The colonies have a distinct pale lustre in certain light, so the common name is rather apt.

Lejeunea query resolved

Well I finally had another attempt at sectioning the Lejeunea stem and managed this result. <=6 medullary cells seems to be a good pointer for mandonii. I'm still not terribly convinced but wonder if there's a referee for this group?

stem in top half of section