Beginning Bryophytes

A great big thank you to bryophyte expert Scot Loring for providing us with two fun-filled and very informative days of delving into the characteristics of mosses, liverworts, and hornworts! Scot tirelessly led three events over a two-day span.

To start things off, on Thursday, February 20, 2020, Scot led a field trip along Waters Gulch Trail to see some mosses and liverworts in their native habitat.

This moss was found growing on bark on the February 20, 2020, field trip along Waters Gulch Trail. The calyptra (coverings) have not yet fallen off of the sporophytic capsule tips. Photo by Barbara Peck.

Thalloid liverwort found on the February 20, 2020, field trip along Waters Gulch Trail. Photo by Barbara Peck.

They also saw a few early-blooming vascular wildflowers.

Milkmaids seen on the February 20, 2020, filed trip along Waters Gulch Trail. Photo by Barbara Peck — Milkmaids, *Cardamine californica,* seen on the February 20, 2020, field trip along Waters Gulch Trail. Photo by Barbara Peck.

Sierra goosberry seen on the February 20, 2020, filed trip along Waters Gulch Trail. Photo by Barbara Peck. — Sierra gooseberry, *Ribes roezlii,* seen on the February 20, 2020, field trip along Waters Gulch Trail. Photo by Barbara Peck.

That same evening, Scot gave a slide presentation to an attentive and appreciative audience.

VW Bug covered in moss; scene from Scot Loring’s Feb. 20, 2020, Chapter meeting presentation. — Partial slide from Scot Loring’s presentation at the February 20, 2020, Chapter meeting, illustrating the fact that bryophytes do not need a nutritive substrate on which to grow. Photo by Linda Finkel.

Examples from Olypic Peninsula, Washington, of byrophytes growing on non-organic matter. Scot Loring’s presentation at the February 20, 2020, Chapter meeting. — More examples from Scot Loring’s presentation at the February 20, 2020, Chapter meeting, illustrating the fact that bryophytes do not need a nutritive substrate on which to grow. All examples came from the Olympic Peninsula, Washington. Photo by Linda Finkel.

Bright and early the next morning, Friday, February 21, Scot taught a workshop that included hands-on learning with live specimens and both compound and dissecting microscopes.

Bryophyte workshop attendees on February 21, 2020, using microscopes to check out various plant characteristics. Instructor Scot Loring at far left. Photo by Kar Stoker.

Microscopic view of a thalloid liverwort with gemmae both inside and outside of the splash cups. Photo by Barbara Peck.

The interest in this informal grouping of non-vascular plants was enormous; dozens of people showed up for these events. The workshop included attendees from multiple groups and agencies: Caltrans, BLM, Shasta College, Bethel Landscaping, Master Gardeners, Whiskeytown Environmental Camp, and CNPS.

Scot is a member of both the Shasta and the Bryophte chapters of CNPS, and encourages us all to consider joining the Bryophyte Chapter as our second affiliation (each membership is allowed two affiliations). We hope Scot will come back in the not too distant future, to help us continue in our education on bryophytes!