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Tree Moss (unk. sp.)

Description:

A species of creeping tree moss. I've narrowed a possible ID down to two family groups - Braithwaiteaceae (genus Braithwaitea?), and Sematophyllaceae. With this spotting, the sporophyte and calyptra look identical to that of the Braithwaitea sulcata - http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/Mosses_onlin... and Sematophyllaceae has been officially recorded in this park. I could also be totally off-the-mark with these ID possibilites. Each of the individual specimens I found were all on the same species of tree (Red Ash?), and all had a south to south-west aspect. Australian mosses Includes 67 families, 203 genera and 676 species and infraspecific taxa [74% of the total]. The reference link is very comprehensive. Who out there knows their mosses to help with a positive ID?

Habitat:

Found along the Duck Pond Track in the Brisbane Forest Park at Enoggera Reservoir. Thick native bushland vegetation. Cooler gully area along creek course, and well shaded due to thicker tree canopy. Growing on Coachwood (Ceratopetalum apetalum), a native hardwood.

Notes:

I thought at first this spotting was a liverwort species, but upon closer inspection of the photos, I could see the stems, leaves, and sporophytes were that of a moss species. Stems were long and sprawling, and hugged the tree. The appearance of the entire plant was flat and mat-like. I have not seen this species of moss anywhere else before; not in this park, nor elsewhere. Also, here's a link for dummies like me who struggle to know the difference between moss, lichen, and liverwort: https://www.burkesbackyard.com.au/fact-s...

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Neil Ross
Spotted by
Neil Ross

Brisbane, QLD, Australia

Spotted on Apr 12, 2015
Submitted on Apr 13, 2015

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