New Atlas of British & Irish Bryophytes

A new atlas of British and Irish bryophytes is published this month. Bryophytes is the collective term for mosses, hornworts and liverworts, spore-producing, rather than seed-producing, plants without flowers. The British Isles support a rich and geographically diverse flora of bryophytes with more than 1000 native species (four hornworts, 298 liverworts and 767 mosses) currently known. Fifty-nine new species have been discovered in the last 20 years.

See our news story for more information about the atlas but we're taking the opportunity to highlight some great images below of some of the species it features.

Philonotis fontana. Photo by Jonathan Sleath

Aulacomnium androgynum. Photo by Jonathan Sleath

Cololejeunea minutissima. Photo by Jonathan Sleath

Distribution map of Ulota phyllantha

Cryphaea heteromalla. Photo by Jonathan Sleath

Frullania dilatata. Photo by Jonathan Sleath

Related links

CEH news: New atlas reveals spread of British bryophytes in response to cleaner air

Full reference: Blockeel, T L, Bosanquet, S D S, Hill, M O and Preston, C D (2014). Atlas of British & Irish Bryophytes. Pisces Publications, Newbury.

The atlas can be ordered via all good bookshops or purchased directly from Nature Bureau