Riccardia Chamedryfolia in UK

[Aqua360]

Hi

so I gather this is now native to the UK, having originated in Japan.

This stuff isn't the cheapest or easiest to source online, has anyone managed to find and use it from outdoors?

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

so I gather this is now native to the UK, having originated in Japan.

It is back to "pick a name" again, assuming that the plant used in aquariums is R. chamedryfolia? Then it is both a native and not uncommon <"https://www.britishbryologicalsocie...2020/12/Riccardia-chamedryfolia-multifida.pdf">.

Relatively bright green forms of R. chamedryfolia that grow submerged on stones in western streams can be confidently identified in the field ....... R. chamedryfolia is found in damp turf, wet heath, bogs, streamsides and wooded ravines, and tends to grow on soil or fine gravel; it also grows in rocky streams. R. multifida is more characteristic of flushes or wet rock faces. Both are slight lime lovers.

I'm not convinced <"they are the same plant">.

cheers Darrel

 

[Oldguy]

back to "pick a name" again

This is one the most annoying aspects of the hobby.

 

[Simon Cole]

has anyone managed to find and use it from outdoors?

Yes and no. There are a plethora different bryophytes where I live. I usually visit these sites with two friends, one who is an botanist, and another who was prominent in aquatic species reintroduction and water management. We always leave them in-situ when we are surveying and will not remove them, especially the <few that are growing immersed>. There is the national bryophyte collection at Treborth (down the road) and it could vastly undermine regional conservation efforts and academic progress if even the smallest "wrong" clump was removed. It would also mean that the species might not show up on botany recording. There is a course being run in <February at Treborth> if you are interested. As Darrel hinted, the key is to make microsopic observations in order to gain identification. Best practice is only collect when it is approved to do so by experts. However, terrestrial hygrophytic liverworts can be far more abundant and they often adapt to submersion; it is usually okay to remove a small sample of around 10mm if the clump is say 300mm or more. Likewise, small samples of certain aquatic mosses can usually be collected when fish are not spawning (outside of closed season), providing that they are trimmed and not pulled from submerged rocks. It comes down to judgement. I don't mind keeping an eye out and propogating some native liverworts to send to you? We cannot access the rivers and lowland streams yet because the fish have started spawning, but there may be samples available from upstream locations where the fish are not.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

This is one the most annoying aspects of the hobby.

It certainly is. At least with <"most stem plants"> you have some hope of them flowering and you getting a name. It is really difficult with mosses <"and liverworts">, a lot <"never produce capsules underwater"> and have a different morphology when submersed <"ID this moss">.

cheers Darrel

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

There are a plethora different bryophytes where I live.

I think, as a general rule, the further north and west you go in the UK, the more bryophytes you get.

We always leave them in-situ when we are surveying and will not remove them, especially the <few that are growing immersed>

The submerged thalloid liverwort in the stream (in your link) is likely to be <"Pellia epiphylla">, although you can't be sure.

There is the national bryophyte collection at Treborth

Nigel Brown was the Treborth curator (40 and a bit years ago), when I was a student in Bangor and the late Tony (AJE) Smith was the last "bryophyte" lecturer. I remember him saying that he wasn't sure what a moss was, despite having <"written the definitive guide to bryophytes">.

<"Reproductive structures under the microscope - Treborth, North Wales - British Bryological Society">

That would be a useful course, but some fairly difficult days. I see it is for BBS members only.

I really recommend the <"BBS Field Guide to Mosses and Liverworts"> - <"Quick growing moss for low tech"> it is more accessible, but still really a book for aspiring botanists <"Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland: A Field Guide">.

cheers Darrel

 

[Simon Cole]

Nigel Brown was the Treborth curator (40 and a bit years ago), when I was a student in Bangor

He still does botany surveys locally. People say that there would be no Treborth gardens today if it was not for Nigel Brown.

 

[dw1305]

Hi all,

People say that there would be no Treborth gardens today if it was not for Nigel Brown.

Top man.

I think the University was pretty keen to divest itself of Treborth in 2006, and Nigel led a campaign to save it. He was curator from 1976 to 2015, he is also a <"moth recorder">.

cheers Darrel