Wednesday 6 December 2017

Didymodon tophaceus

This is one I found this morning on the coast. Under the microscope the leaves look distinctive having the shape similar to a Zygodon with the costa being in a channel. I eventually identified it as either Didymodon luridus or Didymodon tophaceus. It was a bit of a tough call but eventually I went with Didymodon tophaceus because of the leaf shape and the habit of the leaves when dry as D.luridus has appressed leaves when dry and D.tophaceus has it leaves incurled and slightly twisted.

Didymodon tophaceus

Didymodon tophaceus leaf

Tuesday 5 December 2017

Didymodon fallax

Keyed this one out as Didymodon fallax and comparing photos on the internet it looks OK. Here are shots of it in wet and dry state.

Didymodon fallax dry

Didymodon fallax wet

Rhynchostegium murale

A species found most commonly on rock with deeply concave leaves. Often fertile with a subulate beak and smooth seta.

Rhynchostegium murale

Monday 4 December 2017

Cirriphyllum crassinervium or Rhynchostegium confertum

An expert bryologist ID'd a plant for me as being C.crassinervium yesterday but upon checking it the next day I couldn't make out the dinner plate shaped leaves and the basal half of the costa was not thick. Running it through the key I notice that Cirriphyllum has strongly papillose setae which mine didn't plus the lid was subulate and not rostrate. Eventually the key ran me to Rhynchostegium and it quickly became apparent that my specimen was in fact Rhynchostegium confertum.

Rhynchostegium confertum