Suffolk Bryophytes, an update

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SUFFOLK BRYOPHYTES, AN UPDATE RICHARD FISK A Flora of Suffolk (Sanford and Fisk) was published in 2010 and included records of bryophytes known in the county up to the end of 2008. In the ten years since then recording has continued and a number of taxa new to the county as a whole and others for each vice county have been found.

Some of these are the result of taxonomic revisions. Ulota crispula and U. intermedia, at one time in the past, varieties of U. crispa have been shown to be good species. Syntrichia subulata var. angustata is now T. schimperi although the record of T. subulata var. angustata from Shottisham (p487 in the Flora) was found to be T. subulata when checked. Barbula convoluta var. commutata a name that fell out of use has been reinstated as B. convoluta var. sardoa. Orthotrichum pumilum and O. schimperi were not recognised as being distinct in the past, in the first edition of his flora Smith (1978) used the name O. schimperi and in the second edition in 2004 used O. pumilum, both are now recorded from Suffolk. Epiphytic species continue to flourish with reduced air pollution so it is perhaps not surprising that two other species of Orthotrichum have been added to the county list although one of them was also new to Britain. Neckera crispa is a moss normally found on limestone so was totally unexpected in Suffolk as was Ephemerum sessile. Antitrichia curtipendula and Sanionia uncinata whilst not new to the county were the first records for over one hundred years.

New county records:Mosses: Barbula convoluta var. sardoa: As mentioned above this was once known as B. convoluta var. commutata but not recorded in the flora. It was found at Brandeston, TM26K by David Strauss in March 1991 and at Clare, TL74S in October 2013. It is a plant of base rich habitats such as old walls built with mortar and is fairly widespread.

Ephemerum sessile: Scattered patches on damp paths in Wolves Wood, Hadleigh TM04M, October 2018. Often found on the margins of lakes and reservoirs as well as woodland paths. This is the first record from anywhere in East Anglia.

Fontinalis antipyretica var. cymbifolia: Attached to the base of reeds by the River Waveney at Carlton, TM49X, April 2009. A larger version of F. antipyretica without its folded leaves. It has also been found in Oulton Dyke and elsewhere in the R. Waveney.

Neckera crispa: On a lilac tree in the churchyard at West Stow, TL87A, March 2016.

This is a moss normally found on limestone and rarely as an epiphyte so how it came to be here is something of a mystery.

Orthotrichum speciosum: Found by David Strauss on the branch of an oak tree at Tunstall, TM35S in March 2016. This is a species that disappeared from England during the industrial revolution but appears to be making a slow return particularly in

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eastern England. Also recorded at Metfield, TM28V in April 2017 and at Newbourne, TM24L in May 2017.

Orthotrichum patens: A fairly extensive patch on the trunk of a sweet chestnut beside a forest ride Capel St Andrew, TM34P, May 2016 was not only new to Suffolk but also the first record from Britain. It was found in Derbyshire not long afterwards and there are a number of records from the Netherlands. It is a very small plant so easily overlooked.

Orthotrichum pumilum: On a branch of an oak tree on Lakenheath Warren, Elveden, TL77Z February 2015. In the past this has been confused with O. schimperi and both names have been used by authors at various times. They have only recently been separated and both and recorded from Suffolk, the record of O. pumilum in the Flora must be re-named O. schimperi.

Plagiothecium cavifolium: Most records of this species in Britain are from moist mountain ledges so its discovery in a clearing in Stanstead Great Wood, TL84P in April 2012 was surprising. It has however been found in a similar habitat in Norfolk and in the Netherlands.

Pylasia polyantha: An extensive patch on the branch of a prunus sp. at Knettishall Heath, TL98K, December 2014. A species that is spreading in parts of Britain but has been very slow to reach Suffolk. It is similar in appearance to Hypnum cupressiforme a very common moss so can easily be overlooked.

Syntrichia ruralis var. epilosa: When found on a grave in a small burial ground at Aldringham, TM46K in November 2016 it could not be named and it was only when the paper by Gallego et al. (2018) was published that this could happen. It was found in Buckinghamshire in 2012 so this is the second record from Britain.

Tortula schimperi: On a sandy bank, Homersfield, TM28X January 1991. There are scattered records from elsewhere in Britain but it appears to be fairly frequent in Suffolk and it outnumbers T. subulata sens .str. by about five to one.

Ulota coartata: On the branch of an oak tree at Purdis Heath, TM24B January 2011.

Most records in Britain are from NW Scotland but there have been a few from SE England recently that may be of continental origin.

Ulota crispula: On the branch of an oak tree at Knettishall Heath, TL98K August 2017.

This and the next species can only reliably be identified from recently dehisced capsules which occur in late summer, a time when bryophytes are generally ignored in East Anglia.

Ulota intermedia: On branch of an oak tree at Knettishall Heath, TL98K August 2017 (but not the same tree as the previous record).

Liverworts: Microlejeuna ulicina: A tiny plant it was on the branch of an oak tree at Purdis Heath, January 2011 only a short distance from Ulota coartata (see above).

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New Vice County records:Mosses in VC26:Antitrichia curtipendula: A small patch on branch of a sycamore at side of a watercourse in the Country Park at Clare, TL74S October 2013. This moss disappeared from lowland England in the 19th century, but there have been a few recent records so it appears to be making a slow return. This the first record from Suffolk for well over 100 years.

Cinclidotus fontinaloides: On stones in a spillway in the River Stour at Long Melford, TL84L October 2013. Common in the River Waveney this is the first record from the south of the county.

Didymodon nicholsonii: Extensive patch on a tarmac path by roadside at Chelsworth, TL94Y April 2016. A not uncommon plant but it has been overlooked for some time because of similarities with other species.

Tortula schimperi: On a spoil heap under tree at Coney Weston, TL97U January 2012.

Liverworts in VC26:Ricciocarpos natans: Found at Lakenheath RSPB reserve TL78D by J. Shanklin, March 2011.

Mosses in VC25:Bryum archangelicum: Sandy ground on Westleton Common, TM46P July 2010.

Actually found in April of that year but could not be identified until ripe capsules were present.

Sanionia uncinata:- on branch of sallow at edge of a marsh Aldringham, TM45P April 2015. A rare plant in eastern England and has not been seen in Suffolk for about 150 years.

Liverworts in VC25:Frullania tamarisci: Extensive patches on shingle on Orfordness, TM44D May 2012.

This was apparently seen here by M. Godfrey (pers. comm.) in 1997, but at that time it was not realised it was unknown in East Suffolk.

Riccia cavernosa: On mud at margin of a partially dried up pool Redgrave NR, TM07P July 2017.

Other notes:Schistidium apocarpum: The record from Brent Eleigh on p491 of the flora was the result of a misidentification and thus must be deleted. The only species of Schistidium so far recorded from Suffolk is S. crassipilum.

Didymodon acutus: Recent studies have shown this to be a very rare species in Britain and most records are actually D. icmadophilus. The Suffolk record on p484 of the flora must therefore be renamed Didymodon icmadophilus.

References Blockeel, T.L. (2017). The Ulota crispa group in Britain and Ireland, with notes on other species of the genus. Field Bryology 117: 8-19.

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Blockeel, T.L. & Fisk, R.J. (2018). Orthotrichum patens Bruch & Brid. In Suffolk and Derbyshire, another epiphytic moss new to Britain. Journal of Bryology 40: 56-61.

Blockeel, T.L. (2019). Orthotrichum pumilum and O. schimperi in Britain. Field Bryology 121: 38-43 British Bryological Society.

Gallego, M.T., Hugonnot, V. & Cano, M.J. (2018) Taxonomic resurrection of an awnless variety of Syntrichia ruralis and comparison with other European muticous taxa in this genus. Journal of Bryology 40: 244-250.

O’Leary, S.V. & Fisk, R.J. (2019). Syntrichia ruralis var. epilosa new to the British Isles.

Field Bryology 121: 35-37. British Bryological Society.

Smith, A.J.E. (1978). The Moss Flora of Britain and Ireland. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

Smith, A.J.E. (2004). The Moss Flora of Britain and Ireland, ed. 2. Cambridge University Press. Cambridge.

Smith, A.J.E. (2008) Tortula schimperi in England. Field Bryology 94: 21-22 British Bryological Society.

Richard Fisk 3 Fair Close, Beccles, Suffolk NR34 9QR

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