Nashenden Down Mosses

Bryum capillare.  Nashenden Down Nature Reserve, 14 April 2012.

At first there were no mosses so be seen on Nashenden Down, but when we walked through a section of woodland, that changed.  This one is distinguishable by the way its leaves twist spirally around the stem and dry out into little curls.

I am no moss expert and I am following the lead of our moss expert and the British Bryological Society's field guide, which says of this next one that it lacks striking distinguishing characteristics.  Which is not helpful.  But there is a detailed description and a photo.

Brachythecium rutabulum.  Nashenden Down Nature Reserve, 14 April 2012.

Next is another moss from the woods, with regularly branched shoots, though that is not so easy to spot in a jumble like this.  The stem leaves clasp the stem, but those on the branches do not.

Kindbergia praelonga (ex. Eurhynchium praelongum).  Nashenden Down Nature Reserve, 14 April 2012.

Moving out into the open, we found patches of this one, which is a typical find on calcareous soils.  It's a pretty sight, making a bright gold-tinged cushion in the sunshine.

Homalothecium lutescens.  Nashenden Down Nature Reserve, 14 April 2012.

And later on, on a lower path through fields, we found this last one.  It's the only moss we saw that has a common name that hasn't been made up in recent years.

Bonfire-moss, Funaria hygrometrica.  Nashenden Down Nature Reserve, 14 April 2012.

The leaves are hardly visible, but the setae and capsules are very distinctive.  It grows where there has been a fire, though we saw no sign so the fire does not have to be recent.  Those twisted setae curl and uncurl according to how damp they are, which gives it a scientific name which means water-measurer.