Species Atlas
WORK IN PROGRESS! - Will periodically update as species pages are added. Some species pages themselves may also still be under construction.
Taxonomic classifications are prone to change over the years as new evidence, or alternative interpretations of existing evidence suggest different evolutionary histories for the same species. Sometimes, these alterations are minor, but other times they lead to a complete overhaul of existing phylogenies. Significant changes, especially if species are moving between Families and Geni, often necessitate corresponding changes to the scientific name of the species.
Unfortunately, mosses and liverworts have not been exempt from this treatment, and many species have been through multiple name changes even during Jan's lifetime. This can create confusion when comparing sources and guides of differing ages and therefore, any species which still have multiple commonly used scientific names will be marked with an * and will have all their name variations included in this atlas so you can still find the species page you are looking for, even it under a slightly older name.
Useful Botanical Terms:
Excurrent Nerve - nerve which extends past the tip of the leaf, length can vary.
Perichaetial Leaves - the leaves surrounding the archegonium (female sex organ), also referred to as upper leaves.
Perigonia - leaves surrounding the antheridium (male sex organs).
Seta - stalk-like structure which attaches the sporangium (spore-containing organ a.k.a the capsule) to the main body of the moss during the gametophyte stage.
Sporophyte - spore producing part of the plant, consists of the capsule and the seta.
Key Definitions:
Hectad - 10km x 10km squares, used to divide the UK and Ireland into sections.
Nationally Rare (Britain) - A species which occupies 1-15 hectads (Pescott, 2016)
Nationally Scarce (Britain) - A species which occupies 16-100 hectads (Pescott, 2016)
Nationally Rare (Ireland) - A species which occupies 1-5 hectads (Hodgetts & Lockhart, 2013)
Nationally Scarce (Ireland) - A species which occupies 6-20 hectads. (Hodgetts & Lockhart, 2013)
A
Abietinella abietina
Acaulon muticum
Aloina aloides
Aloina ambigua
Aloina rigida
Amblystegium confervoides*
Amblystegium serpens
Anomodon viticulosus
Antitrichia curtipendula
Aphanorrhegma patens*
P
Physcomitrium patens*
Physcomittrella patens*
Platydicta confervoides*
S
Serpoleskea confervoides*
References
Hodgetts, N., & Lockhart, N. (2013). Rare and Scarce Bryophytes of Ireland. Field Bryology, 110, 12. https://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FB110_Hodgetts_IrishRareList.pdf
Pescott, O. (2016). Revised lists of nationally rare and scarce bryophytes for Britain. Field Bryology, 115, 22–30. https://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FB115_Oli_RareList.pdf