Mosses
and Liverworts
in Wales
by Alan
Hale
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Mosses
and Liverworts
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in Wales
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by Alan
Hale
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This site is intended to provide an introduction
to some of the wide range of mosses and liverworts (or bryophytes) that
occur in Wales.
It is mainly aimed at those interested in, but with little or no knowledge
of these simple but often beautiful and fascinating plants, in the hope
of stimulating that interest further. It is not intended to give a comprehensive
coverage of the species to be found, nor will it function as an identification
guide (although some of the photographs may aid identification).
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| In a European context, Wales
is particularly rich in mosses and liverworts, having a combination of a
damp and mild ("oceanic") climate, relatively clean air, and a variety of
suitable habitats. However, many species have
become rarer in recent decades due to factors such as habitat loss and pollution,
and measures to ensure their conservation have
become increasingly important.
Recording of mosses and liverworts in Britain (including Wales) is coordinated and carried out by British Bryological Society members. Their efforts have resulted in the publication of detailed maps of the distribution of these plants in Britain (see booklist). For those wanting to know more, a booklist is provided, as well as links to some related Web sites. A word of caution - especially for the beginner, microscopic examination will be required to confidently identify mosses and liverworts. This inevitably involves collecting some material. Unless you know the species to be common, only collect as much as is needed for identification, (usually only a very small amount). Even with common species exercise discretion. Remember that under UK law (and the law of many other countries) all wild plants are given a degree of protection by the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981. Some species are given additional protection under the Act and it is illegal to collect them at all, except under special licence.
This WWW site was created by Alan Hale. Last updated 21 January 2001. Please email your comments or queries. |
