The woodland flora of the Forest of Writtle and surrounding area
Fissidentales
Fissidens incurvus: The horizontal capsules of this species make it relatively easy to identify. 1 have
only one record - from a damp and deeply shaded bank on the northern edge of The Grove in March
1995.
Fissidens bryoides: Common and widespread on wet, clayey stream and wood-banks throughout the
area but commonest on neutral to only slightly acidic soils.
Fissidens exilis : Recorded by Ken Adams from a woodland clearing in Lady Grove in 1968. There
have been no subsequent records.
Fissidens taxifolius: Common and widespread on wet clayey stream and woodbanks throughout the
Forest complex.
Fissidens viridulus: Recorded from Fryerning Churchyard in January 1990 by Tim Pyner and from
The Grove in May 2003 by myself.
Pottiales
Weisia controversa: Fairly common and widespread in the area as a whole but the only woodlands
records come from Great Edney set-aside field in March 2000 and Horsfrith in May 2002.
Barbula convoluta: A common open-ground species that was recorded from Parson's Spring by Tim
Pyner in December 2002.
Funariales
Funaria hygrometrica: Common on old bonfire sites in woodland clearings throughout the survey
area and in similar situations elsewhere.
Bryales
Pohlia nutans: Recorded from Hockley Shaw, Stoneymore Wood, Birch and Parson's Springs, Mill
Green Common, Fryerning Churchyard and The Hyde Lake. Probably more widespread than this.
Orthodontium lineare: The only woodland sites are Stoneymore Wood, Birch and Parson's Springs,
Hockley Shaw, Coppice Spring, The Grove and The Hyde Lake. Probably more widespread than this.
Bryum capillare: Common on tree roots and occasional brick or stonework in woodland; abundant in
such habitats outside it.
Bryum caespiticium: Fairly frequent on compacted soil in open habitats in woodland, very common
outside it. Only identifiable with certainty when in fruit.
Bryum subelegans (as B. flaccidum): This scarce species, which grows on rotting wood, was found at
South Wood on April 28th 2002 by Tim Pyner.
Bryum rubens: An abundant open-ground species that was found in Birch Spring by Tim Pyner in
January 1990.
Mnium hornum: Abundant in all manner of habitats in woodland throughout the area: the commonest
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