Author Archives: wildfife

Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans

Posted on February 6, 2024 by wildfife

Elegant Silk-moss I began to notice this moss growing in flat smooth patches around the larger Mnium hornum mosses on the steep bare banks of Keils Den. They seem to be a regular partnership here. The shoots are generally flat with … Continue reading →

Posted in Bare earth, Hypnales, Woods | Leave a comment

Fissidens taxifolius

Posted on December 22, 2023 by wildfife

Common Pocket-moss Often, this moss appears as tiny green shoots poking through a bank of earth. But it can grow into sizeable clumps, on stone as well as earth. It has the flat fingered look of all the Fissidens, with … Continue reading →

Posted in Dicranales | Leave a comment

Brachythecium albicans

Posted on August 29, 2023 by wildfife

Whiteish Feather-moss What a terrible name to give to this moss – Whiteish Feather-moss.  It’s usually described as yellow-green, or pale.  Anyway, it was the colour and the upright stringy shoots which made me notice it in the dunes at … Continue reading →

Posted in Dunes, Hypnales | Leave a comment

Bartramia pomiformis

Posted on March 28, 2023 by wildfife

Common Apple-moss Growing away at the foot of a small, north-facing cliff, this moss was crying out to be noticed. The pale green capsules looked like a host of small balloons. Or like apples! The old capsules are brown and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bryales | Leave a comment

Encalypta streptocarpa again

Posted on February 18, 2023 by wildfife

Spiral Extinguisher-moss I first did a blog about Encalypta streptocarpa five years ago, after finding it near Abernethy. Since then, I’ve never come across it. But here it was, making itself very much at home on a field wall at … Continue reading →

Posted in Encalyptales, Walls | Leave a comment

Streblotrichum convolutum / Barbula convoluta

Posted on September 20, 2022 by wildfife

Lesser Bird’s-claw Beard-moss Tiny little mosses can be so difficult, but this one seems to stand out because of its bright yellow green colour and minute size. It used to be called Barbula convoluta but has recently been given an … Continue reading →

Posted in Bare earth, Pottiales | Leave a comment

Hypopterygium tamarisci

Posted on August 28, 2022 by wildfife

Something a bit different. A moss from the southern hemisphere. I saw a tweet about its presence on tree ferns in Glasgow Botanic Gardens (@AverisBen) and being along that way this weekend, had a look for myself. It wasn’t hard … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Dicranoweisia cirrata

Posted on August 22, 2022 by wildfife

Common Pincushion It’s so easy to see how this one gets its common name, in winter anyway when the capsules stick up like pins from a dense green cushion. So far, I’ve usually found it on fence posts – probably … Continue reading →

Posted in Dicranales, Fence post | Leave a comment

Anomodon viticulosus

Posted on April 5, 2022 by wildfife

Rambling Tail-moss This is a large, soft moss which I’ve only ever seen growing on one tree, a Field Maple.  The BBS Guide lists quite a number of typical habitats, but not tree trunks.  However, it’s well established on this … Continue reading →

Posted in Hypnales, Tree trunk (living), Uncategorized, Woods | Leave a comment

Pogonatum aloides

Posted on February 28, 2022 by wildfife

Aloe Haircap This little moss was growing on a damp, shady bank, looking at first sight like a small version of Atrichum undulatum (which was also growing there). The individual plants grow out of the green scummy looking stuff spread … Continue reading →

Posted in Bare earth, Polytrichales | Leave a comment