Now that winter is nearly upon us, most of the greenery of spring and summer has finally died away for the year. You might think that it looks a little dull and lifeless outside, but nothing could be further from the truth!
Take the time to look a little closer and you can discover a whole new world that’s been right under your nose all along! The word bryophytes won’t mean much to most people, but it’s just a collective word for plants such as mosses and liverworts. Bryophytes are non-vascular plants – this means that unlike flowering plants, shrubs and trees, they don’t have tissues which transport water and nutrients. There are about 20 000 species of bryophytes in the world, and they can range from the microscopic to over a metre tall!
Moss with fruiting bodies in the play area
Like most people, you might never have paid much attention to moss before, or even noticed it was there. Mosses are incredibly diverse, and grow pretty much anywhere that’s damp. As they don’t have roots like other plants, they need to be able to absorb water through their surface, so you often see them on damp soils, rotting logs or exposed stone. Throughout the world though, they can be found in streams or deserts, and from the Arctic all the way down to the Antarctic!
At first sight moss appears to be jut a splodge of green on the ground or on a tree, but mosses are in fact just as complex and diverse as flowering plants! Unlike other plants however, the bryophytes reproduce by making spores – a bit like mushrooms do. At certain times of the year, just like wildflowers release seeds, the moss or liverwort will produce so-called ‘fruiting bodies’ which release the spores.
Moss growing on the ground around the discovery trail and on the boardwalk
Despite the fact that they’re so varied and amazing, very few people study bryophytes, perhaps for the same reasons we take them for granted, as they are mostly rather small and inconspicuous. However, anyone can discover a magical miniature world with the help of a hand lens. These are tiny little magnifying glasses that only cost a couple of pounds, and are fantastic for looking at all sorts of wildlife wonders in full HD!
Mossy carpet amongst other plants on either side of the boardwalk
If you want to find out more about brilliant bryophytes, check out the British Bryological Society’s website, which has some great beginner’s info and tips for getting started. Why not have a look in your garden or come to the reserve and have a hunt for these amazing little plants?