The inherent artistry of bryophytes

|Inspiration, Photography

Bryophytes are mosses and liverworts. Mosses and liverworts are ancient non-flowering members of the plant kingdom. They are more often than not very small, although readily form carpets covering large areas. They have wonderful common names like Flapwort, Haircap or Sheathed Timmia, and scientific names that are impossible to remember such as Brachythecium rutabalum. On some of the bigger and thus more familiar species like Sphagnum you can make out their form quite well with the naked eye. On the smaller ones you have to work harder, you will require a microscope or hand lens to peer into this secret world or ‘hidden forest’. Once there you will see the weird and wonderful morphological intricacies present. Non-flowering means there’s no flowers or seeds, but there are reproductive structures known as antheridia (male) and archegonia (female); these can be as magical as their floral counterparts. In liverworts some have umbrella-like structures, whereas others keep their reproductive elements hidden in tiny cup-like pockets on the leaves. Mosses have stalks called setas which end with pod-like capsules. Sometimes these capsules have teeth called peristomes. Then there are the ever present leaves or thalli, which come in a endless variety of shapes and sizes, some translucent skins, others colourful and bushy, some grow up and some grow out. Taking photographs is not easy, a macro-lens might not be enough, with micro-photography perhaps the best way to go.

The British Bryological Society does a really good job in the UK of publicising and caring for these plants. Even owning a copy of their publication Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland, will make you feel more aware of the existence of this world. Here of course we are fascinated by plant form, by the beauty of it all, from this our appreciation grows. Thanks to the BBS website and their member photographers for use of images.

Diphyscium foliosum  capsule photographed by Des Callaghan

Marchantia polymorpha ssp. ruderalis photographed by Peter Martin

Orthotrichum stramineum photographed by Des Callaghan

Schistostega pennata photographed by Sean Edwards

Sphagnum fimbriatum photographed at Wartle Moss

Catascopium nigritum photographed by Martin Robinson

Sphagnum subnitens photographed by Stephen Buchan

Lophozia wenzelii photographed by Des Callaghan

Conocephalum salebrosum photographed by Jonathan Sleath

Conostomum tetragonum photographed by by Des Callaghan

Scapania lepida photographed by Dan Wrench

Bryum warneum photographed by Des Callaghan

Hedwigia ciliata var leucophaea photographed by Des Callaghan

Sematophyllum substrumulosum by Des Callaghan