70 THE ESSEX NATURALIST
Bryophyte Notes for 1961
By E. Saunders
The year 1961 was another good year for the bryologists and
the following new species and varieties have been added to the
Essex lists.
(The nomenclature used follows the Annotated List of British
Mosses by Richards and Wallace, 1950 and An Annotated list
of British Hepatics by E. W. Jones, 1958.)
MOSSES
Sphagnum recurvum P. Beauv. Growing in a bog by Lodge
Road, Epping Forest. July 1960. V.c. 19.
It is curious that this species had not been recorded for V.c. 19,
whereas S. cuspidatum has, they are rather alike in appearance.
It is possible that S. cuspidatum is extinct in Essex at the present
day, whereas S. recurvum although local is usually found in some
quantity where it does occur.
Octodiceras fontamim (La Pyl.) Lindb. Growing on the gates
of Harlow Mill Lock by the R, Stort. Jan. 1961. V.c. 19.
Seen in abundance on old lock gates (now probably destroyed)
lying on the bank by the river when they were being replaced in
1961. Also occurs on a wooden post in the river near Roydon.
Aug. 11th 1961. V.c. 19. A rare species recorded mainly from the
R. Thames and R. Severn.
Dicranella cerviculata (Hedw.) Schp. From a steep wooded
bank of R. Stour near Wrabness, Field Club meeting; Oct. 7th
1961. V.c. 19.
Campylopus introflexus (Hedw.) Brid. A small amount was
found on burnt ground in Monk Wood, Epping Forest, by J. H.
G. Peterken on Aug. 19th 1961. This species seems to be spread-
ing in southern England on heathy ground.
Tortula subulata var. angustata (Wils.) Limpr. From a steep
chalk bank of the Bourne Brook near Farnham. Sept. 11th 1961.
V.c. 19. Originally considered a species, this variety is very
distinct when typical, but intermediate forms occur.
Tortula muralis var. rupestris Schultz. From a concrete slab
by roadside near Burnt Mill. V.c. 19. This variety is not included
in the Annotated List of 1950 but is still being recorded. It is
suggested that an alteration in the chromosome number may be
responsible for this giant form.
Tortula vahliana (Schultz) Wils. From a chalk bank under
beeches by railway near Little Chesterford, Dec. 1960. V.c. 19.
A rare species that is recorded from Cambridgeshire not very far
across the border, it is rather like T. muralis, one of our com-
monest mosses, but grows on the ground and not on walls.
Bryum pallescens Schleich. Locally abundant by roadside
south of Galleywood Common, on drier ground here it forms
bright red patches. Capsules were abundant and the inflorescence
is autoicous. 1961. V.c. 18.