Brownslade Burrows

I've been surveying dune bryophytes on Brownslade Burrows for Landmarc over the Christmas period. This is Pembrokeshire's most extensive dune system, and there is plenty of open, wet habitat in the former sand-pits here. The highlight was four small patches of Bryum dyffrynense, Nationally Rare and new to the county. 

Bryum dyffrynense and location

Other Bryums have proved more of a challenge, as they are lacking ripe fruits at this time of year. Some Bryum pallens could be confirmed through the presence of axillary gemmae. Bryum gemmiferum is here in one of its few county sites.  Bryum torquescens is occasional, sometimes in more mobile sand amongst marram. Slightly off the dunes on a limestone and clay track near Linney is some apparent Ptychostomum touwii, a recently recognised species which may be new to Wales.

axillary gemmae of Bryum pallens

Ptychostomum touwii

One surprise has been just how abundant Didymodon acutus is here. There's a huge population, surely the largest in the UK, and apparently all the Nationally Rare D. acutus sensu stricto, in comparison to the limestone tracks on the adjoining range where it's mostly D. icmadophilus.

Didymodon acutus

Also locally frequent are Preissia quadrata at its only site in the county, and Leiocolea badensis, not previously recorded here. Ditrichum flexicaule was new to the county from one slack. Distichium inclinatum is in two places, including on a slightly tufaceous soft-cliff above the beach. Although not fruiting it can be identified by the rectangular cells arranged in rows near the leaf shoulder.

Soft cliff with Didymodon tophaceous, Eucladium and a Distichium

Trichostomum crispulum is the most abundant moss in the slacks, and a few shoots were sporting a fungus - Bryostroma trichostomi. 

Bryostroma trichostomi

Oh, and there's some petalwort. Lots of it. Doing fine.

Petalwort