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Weissia rostellata (Brid) Lindb.

Beaked Beardless-moss POTTIACEAE SYN.: Astomum rostellatum (Brid.) Bruch & Schimp., Hymenostomum rostellatum (Brid.) Schimp.

Status Bryophyte Red Data Book - Lower Risk (Near-threatened) (2001) Status in Europe: Rare BAP Priority Species Natural England Species Recovery Lead Partner: Plantlife International

UK Biodiversity Action Plan This is the current BAP target following the 2001 Targets Review:

T1 - Maintain population size at all extant sites.

Progress on targets as reported in the UKBAP 2002 reporting round can be viewed by selecting this species and logging in as a guest on the following web page: http://www.ukbap.org.uk/

The full Action Plan for Weissia rostellata can be viewed on the following web page: http://www.ukbap.org.uk/UKPlans.aspx?ID=631

Contents 1 Morphology, Identification, Taxonomy & Genetics...... 2 1.1 Morphology & Identification ...... 2 1.2 Taxonomic Considerations...... 4 1.3 Genetic Implications ...... 4 2 Distribution & Current Status ...... 4 2.1 World ...... 4 2.2 Europe ...... 4 2.3 United Kingdom ...... 5 2.3.1 England ...... 6 2.3.2 Northern Ireland...... 8 2.3.3 Scotland...... 8 2.3.4 Wales ...... 8 3 Ecology & Habitat Requirements ...... 8 3.1 The Landscape Perspective...... 8 3.2 Communities & Vegetation ...... 10 3.3 Summary of Habitat Requirements ...... 12

Work on Weissia rostellata is supported by:

1 4 Management Implications ...... 12 5 Threats / Factors Leading to Loss or Decline or Limiting Recovery ...... 12 6 Current Conservation Measures ...... 12 7 References ...... 13 8 Acknowledgements ...... 14 9 Contacts ...... 14 10 Links...... 14

1 Morphology, Identification, Taxonomy & Genetics

1.1 MORPHOLOGY & IDENTIFICATION Beaked Beardless-moss Weissia rostellata is a small cleistocarpous moss that forms loose tufts on damp soil or drying mud. It has always been regarded as very scarce and local in Britain and rare in Ireland. The Atlas of the Bryophytes of Britain and Ireland (Hill et al. 1992: 308) showed post-1950 records from 17 hectads in Britain but 9 additional records from before 1950, and it was noted that 'there may have been a real decline in some districts'. Fieldwork during 2001-2003 resulted in numerous additional localities being found, but confusion with W. squarrosa may sometimes have occurred. W. rostellata has a world range that is restricted to Europe and it appears to be rare almost everywhere, being listed as 'Rare' in the Red Data Book of European Bryophytes (1995).

Figure 1 - Weissia rostellata with mature capsule. (Drawing by Dr Fred Rumsey)

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Figure 2 - Weissia rostellata plants with immature and almost mature capsules. (Photograph by David Holyoak)

Figure 3 - Weissia rostellata with almost mature capsules. (Photograph by David Holyoak)

A detailed description of W. rostellata, drawings and comparisons with allied species are given in the revision of European species of Weissia subgenus Astomum by Crundwell & Nyholm (1972). Other drawings and a description are provided by Smith (2004). 3

For bryologists who are familiar with small acrocarpous mosses, W. rostellata may be identified from other Weissia species by its combination of a cleistocarpous capsule, well developed but usually rather short seta (1-3 times as long as capsule) and large calyptra (0.75-1.0 mm long). Under favourable conditions good fertile material can be identified in the field. Muddles with the superficially similar Pseudephemerum nitidum can occur in the field, but the latter species has narrower more translucent leaves with the perichaetial bracts undifferentiated. Non-fertile material or plants with very young capsules cannot be safely distinguished from other Weissia species, even using microscopic characters.

Only the very rare taxon Weissia xmittenii of SE. England shares most of the characters of W. rostellata, leading some workers to suspect this 'extinct species' may have represented hybrids between W. rostellata and the rare W. multicapsularis. Crundwell & Nyholm (1972) showed that W. xmittenii differs from W. rostellata in having well differentiated perichaetial bracts (they are less different from the leaves in W. rostellata) and in being taller (up to 15 mm, compared to 5 mm in W. rostellata). Weissia squarrosa can also be confused with W. rostellata but it differs in having capsules that eventually dehisce, innovations [branches] with distinctive squarrose leaves and often a relatively longer (ellipsoidal) capsule on a longer seta.

Because of the potential for misidentification voucher specimens should be retained when W. rostellata is recorded from new localities.

1.2 TAXONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS Taxonomically, W. rostellata provides a link between species with a very short seta and cleistocarpous capsules that were formerly placed in the genus Astomum and those with long setae and peristomate capsules of genus Weissia s.s.

1.3 GENETIC IMPLICATIONS There is no information on the population genetics of W. rostellata (e.g. from isozymes) and no genetic data (e.g. from DNA sequences) on its affinities to closely related species.

2 Distribution & Current Status

2.1 WORLD W. rostellata is reliably known only in Europe. Ros et al. (1999: 234) note that 'The presence of this species in North Africa should be considered as doubtful. It has not been cited in the literature compiled for this paper [a comprehensive review], although, according to Düll (1984) it is found in North Africa.' According to Crundwell & Nyholm (1972), records from North America refer to W. ludoviciana.

2.2 EUROPE Weissia rostellata is 'a rather rare species of N.W., C. and E. Europe' (T.L. Blockeel in Hill et al. 1992: 308).

The detailed taxonomic review by Crundwell & Nyholm (1972: 8-9) listed W. rostellata for 'N. Ireland (not seen); N. Wales; England, north to Yorkshire; Norway (Östfold); Sweden (Skåne, Västmanland, Södermanland); scattered localities in Europe north of the Alps from western France to Wroclaw, Poland (Szafran, 1957); Slovenia (Pavletic, 1955), Hungary (Vajda, 1971), Carpathians, Russia (Savicz-Ljubitzkaja & Smirnova, 1970)'.

4 Düll (1984: 94) summarised the range as 'EUR : Au!; Be!; Br!; Cz!; Ga!; Ge!; Hb; Ho; Hs; Hu; It!; Ju; No; Po!; Rs: W; Sv. AFR 1; suboc.' The Spanish record was actually from Islas Baleares and is now regarded as erroneous (Guerra 2002: 15).

Recent publications have reported W. rostellata in the Netherlands (Buter 2000), as new to Switzerland (Bergamini 2000) and subsequently added two more Swiss records (Bergamini & Meier 2000).

W. rostellata has usually been regarded as a rare species in Ireland where, until recently, it was known by two old records in Co. Antrim and a single more recent (1987) find in East Mayo (Blockeel & Long 1998: 85). However, fieldwork in 1999-2002 added four more sites in Co. Antrim and a new record in Co. Leitrim. During 2003 it was also found in Co. Galway (H16) so the species seems likely to have been overlooked elsewhere in Ireland.

2.3 UNITED KINGDOM W. rostellata is known in the U.K. mainly in England, with a few records from Northern Ireland and Wales and one from Scotland.

In Britain and Ireland 'some of the records are old, and although the species is ephemeral and mobile in its occurrence, there may have been a real decline in some districts.' (T .L. Blockeel in Hill et al. 1992: 308). A list and review of records from localities in the U.K. was given by Holyoak (2001) and this was supplemented by records from subsequent fieldwork (Holyoak 2002), although some additional records from northern England remain unpublished (TBDB data, per Nick Hodgetts, pers. comm.).

5 Figure 4 - Distribution in the UK of Weissia rostellata.

Table 1 - Summary of post 1990 UK records for Weissia rostellata. COUNTRY 10KM SQUARES SITE NAME England SD75 Stocks Reservoir SE31 Wintersett SK07 Combs Reservoir SK24 Carsington Water SK25 Carsington Reservoir SK37 Totley Brook SK44 Streeley SK45 Felley SO33 Michaelchurch Escley SP07 Upper Bittell Reservoir SS21 Upper Tamar Lake SS64 Wistpoundland Reservoir SS93 Wimbleball Lake ST03 Clatworthy Reservoir ST70 Mappowder SX49 Roadford Reservoir SX97 Dawlish TA32 Hollym Carrs TQ63 Bewl Water TQ71 Powdermill Reservoir TQ81 Powdermill Reservoir NI J26 Bonner’s Reservoir J38 South Woodburn Reservoirs J39 North Woodburn Reservoir J49 Copeland Reservoir Scotland NT26 Lothians Reservoirs Wales SN24 Ceridigion field SN52 Glan Myddyfi SO40 Coed-y-Fedw ST49 Wentwood Reservoir SM91 Red Hill

2.3.1 ENGLAND Records are summarised in order of vice-counties:

vc3: South Devon Recorded in 2002 at Woodhouse Farm, Dawlish [SX97] vc4: North Devon Recorded in 2001 at Wistlandpound Reservoir [SS64], and in 2002-2004 at Roadford Reservoir [SX49] and Upper Tamar Lake [SS21]. vc5: South Somerset Found in 2001 at Wimbleball Lake [SS93] and Clatworthy Reservoir [ST03]. vc9: Dorset Known from a single locality NE. of Mappowder [ST70], where it was found in 1960 and refound in 2001. 6 vc(13): West Sussex Only pre-1950 records are mapped in Hill et al. (1992), in TQ2l and TQ22. vc(14): East Sussex Recorded from Hamsey [=TQ41-12-] in 1901 and 1902. In 2001 found at Bewl Water [TQ63] and Powdermill Reservoir [TQ71, TQ81]. vc(15): East Kent The only record was from Boxley [=TQ75] in 1904. vc(17): Surrey Only record was from Felbridge [=TQ34] in 1900. vc22: Berkshire Recorded at Bagley Wood [=SP50] in 1945-1951 but unreported in the county since then. vc(23): Oxfordshire Found at Whitecross Green Wood, Studley [= SP61], in 1945-1946 but unreported in the county since then. vc29: Cambridgeshire Recorded at Gamlingay Wood [= TL25] and near Hatley St George [TL36] 1957- 1965. Two more recent reports from arable fields involved W. squarrosa. vc(36): Herefordshire A single record from Eardisley [= SO24] in 1891. vc37: Worcestershire Recorded at Upper Bittell Reservoir [= SP07] in 2004. vc(38): Warwickshire Reported from Alcester Reservoir [= SP05] in 1888. vc(55): Leicestershire with Rutland A single record in 1941 [in hectad SK51]. vc56: Nottinghamshire Recorded at Streeley [SK44] in 2004 and Felley, N. of Moorgreen Reservoir, [SK45] in 2004. vc57: Derbyshire Recorded 1 mile S. of Gleadless [= SK38] in 1950, at Blue Lagoon Meadow, Breaston [SK43] in 1982. Also recorded at Carsington Reservoir (Water) [SK24, 25] in 2002/3, Combs Reservoir [SK07] in 2003 and Totley Brook [SK37] in 2003. vc58: Cheshire Recorded at Bosley Reservoir [= SJ96] in 1976. vc61: South-east Yorkshire Recorded at Hollym Carrs [TA32] in 2003. vc63: South-west Yorkshire Recorded 1953-1986 from four hectads [SD92, SK59, SE12, SE61], and at Wintersett [SE31] in 2002. vc64: Mid-west Yorkshire Recorded 1969-2003 from two hectads [SD64 and SD75]. vc67: South Northumberland Recorded 1966-1968 from two hectads [NY97 and NT70].

7 2.3.2 NORTHERN IRELAND Until recently it was known only by two old records (1902-1906) in Co. Antrim, but fieldwork in 1999 (Holyoak 1999a) and 2002 produced four more sites on margins of reservoirs in that county. The recent records are from North Woodburn Reservoir [J39], South Woodburn Reservoirs [J38], Copeland Reservoir [J49] and Bonner's Reservoir [J26].

2.3.3 SCOTLAND Until recently the only record was from vc83 (Midlothian) at Upper Habbies Howe, post- 1970 [hectad NT16], but a small popuation was recorded from the upper section of the inundation zone of Glencorse Reservior (NT26) in 2003 on silty soil amongst stones.

2.3.4 WALES Records are from five vice-counties:

vc35: Monmouthshire Recorded from Wentwood Reservoir [ST43] in 2003, and from damp arable fields at Coed-y-Fedw, Dingestow (SO40) in 2004, where it is mixed with W. squarrosa. vc44: Camarthanshire Recorded from damp arable fields from Glan Myddyfi (SN52) in 2004. vc45: Pembrokeshire Recorded on damp arable stubble field at Red Hill (SM91) in January 2005 with Tortula truncata, Pleuridium subulatum, Pseudephemerum nitidum, Dicranella staphylina and Eurynchium hians as frequent associates. vc46: Cardiganshire Recorded in a field near Llechryd in 1994 [hectad SN24]. vc52: Anglesey Records were made during 1971-1988 at Llyn Cefni [SH47 = Llangefni Reservoir] and Llyn Alaw [SH48].

3 Ecology & Habitat Requirements

3.1 THE LANDSCAPE PERSPECTIVE

HABITATS IN EUROPE Most of the detailed information available on habitats of W. rostellata is from Britain. European floras refer to it growing on exposed mud or soil often in wet places. Little detail is usually given, although Bergamini & Meier (2000) describe the habitat and associates in Switzerland. Crundwell & Nyholm (1972: 8-9) note that it occurs 'On damp clay, especially at the sides of ponds and in arable fields; widely distributed but nowhere common'.

In August 2000 W. rostellata was found at Carrickaport Lough, Co. Leitrim by D.T. Holyoak during work for the Irish National Parks and Wildlife Service. Notes on its ecology made in the field record that it grew unshaded to partly shaded (by grasses and Juncus acutiflorus) on damp clay-mud of the base (three patches) or top edge (one patch) of a shallow (1 m) sparsely vegetated ditch near the lake. It was less common than some of the associated mosses because it grew only on wet clayey substrate, not on sandy or silty muds.

HABITATS IN UNITED KINGDOM According to T.L. Blockeel (in Hill et al. 1992: 308): W rostellata is 'an ephemeral species which is an early colonist of moist bare ground. It is most frequent on gravelly 8 ground and mud exposed in late summer and autumn on the margins of reservoirs and occasionally rivers, but has been recorded also in a number of other situations, including the banks of ditches, woodland rides and bare patches and turfy hollows in fields and pastures. It is usually on clay or rich organic soil which is either water-retentive or kept moist by its physical situation. Pseudephemerum nitidum is a common associate, and by reservoirs it may occur in the communities characterized by Physcomitrium sphaericum and bulbiliferous Pohlia spp. Lowland. Autoecious. Capsules abundant.'

During the 1960s to 1990s few British bryologists knew this species, which was regarded as rather rare and elusive. Prof. J.G. Duckett (pers. comm., Sept. 1999) has pointed out that his finds of it at reservoirs in the English north Pennines were from high levels on the exposed reservoir mud, not far below the winter shore-line.

Detailed notes on its ecology were made when it was found in Co. Antrim in August 1999 on mud exposed at edges of three reservoirs (Holyoak 1999a). At all three reservoirs W. rostellata was hard to find because it was localised and present only in small amounts, typically as small and widely scattered patches. Most plants were immature and only a minority of these had capsules developing; searches later in the year (September or October) might prove easier. In August 1999 it could only be found by checking with hand-lens (and identifying) small acrocarpous mosses from many scattered samples lifted on the blade of a knife. It was found at upper levels on the exposed mud, from near normal winter water levels on the reservoir edges down only to about the middle of the zone colonised by such herbs as Persicaria hydropiper, P. maculosa and Rorippa palustris, and grasses. It was often on rather dry mud with little or no shade from herbs, but was also seen on a damp substrate well shaded by low Eleocharis palustris.

Other records of associated bryophytes recorded from herbarium specimens (BBSUK, NMW) fit in well with other information given above implying occurrence of W. rostellata on exposed damp, often water-retentive, neutral to mildly acidic soils or muds.

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Figure 5 - Habitat of Weissia rostellata (beside knife) on margin of Roadford Lake, North Devon, where it is becoming shaded as grasses grow up. (Photograph by David Holyoak)

3.2 COMMUNITIES & VEGETATION According to T.L. Blockeel (in Hill et al. 1992: 308), Pseudephemerum nitidum is a common associate and, by reservoirs, it may occur in the communities characterized by Physcomitrium sphaericum and bulbiliferous Pohlia spp. Duckett & Duckett (1980, e.g. Table 3) also give information on the plant communities of reservoir margins in northern England that include W. rostellata.

A little information on bryophytes that grow as associates can also be gleaned from those present on the same pieces of soil or mud preserved with W. rostellata in herbarium specimens from British localities (Holyoak 2001). The identifiable associates listed from specimens loaned from BBSUK and NMW were as follows: vc9 (Appleyard) Bryum rubens, Tortula truncata; vc29 (Whitehouse, Gamlingay Wood) Bryum sp., Fissidens sp., Tortula truncata; vc58 (Perry, Bosley Reservoir) Ephemerum serratum agg.; vc63 (Appleyard, Hipperholme) Ditrichum cylindricum, Pleuridium sp.; vc64 (Perry, Bottom Beck, Stocks Reservoir) Bryum sp., Calliergonella cuspidata, Eurhynchium hians.

At reservoirs in Co. Antrim in August 1999 (Holyoak 1999a) it occurred from near normal winter water levels on the reservoir edges down only to about the middle of the zone colonised by such herbs as Persicaria hydropiper, P. maculosa and Rorippa palustris, and grasses. It was often on rather dry mud with little or no shade from herbs, but was also seen on a damp substrate well shaded by low Eleocharis palustris. A representative list of closely associated bryophytes at North Woodburn Reservoir comprised Aphanorhegma patens, Bryum sp., Dicranella staphylina, Physcomitrium 10 sphaericum and Tortula truncata, with the W. rostellata occurring as few scattered plants on mud rather lightly shaded by herbs.

Details of habitat conditions of W. rostellata and associated plants at several reservoirs in southern England are given by Holyoak (2002). For example, at Wistlandpound Reservoir in North Devon W. rostellata was found in four small areas in the upper part of the inundation zone, ca 1-2 m below bankfull levels. These areas had about 40% bare soil and 60% vegetation cover, much of it of Littorella uniflora, with much smaller amounts of Filipendula ulmaria (seedlings), Gnaphalium uliginosum, Juncus articulatus, Mentha aquatica, Molinia caerulea, Potentilla anserina and low bryophytes including Archidium alternifolium, Drepanocladus/Warnstorfia sp., Ephemerum serratum var. serratum, E. sessile, Hypnum lindbergii and Philonotis fontana.

Near Mappowder in Dorset (Holyoak 2002) the W. rostellata was at the edge of damp low-lying grassland on unshaded damp clay-soil exposed among grasses in an area near a few puddles (in old wheel ruts). The few patches of W. rostellata grew in areas with 50-60% bare soil and 40-50% cover of vegetation that consisted mainly of Dactylis glomerata, Ranunculus repens, Poa annua, Tripleurospermum inodorum, Lolium multiflorum and many Poaceae seedlings, with a few plants also of Galium aparine and Scrophularia auriculata. Other mosses occurring sparsely nearby and in similar habitats to the W. rostellata were Tortula truncata, Barbula unguiculata, Fissidens taxifolius (immature plants), Eurhynchium hians, Dicranella staphylina and Brachythecium rutabulum.

Associates listed for W. rostellata in Co. Leitrim, Ireland by D.T. Holyoak in 2000 were the bryophytes Dicranella schreberiana, D. staphylina, Ephemerum serratum, Eurhynchium hians, Fissidens sp., Tortula truncata, and the phanerogams Holcus lanatus, Juncus bufonius and Ranunculus repens.

DISPERSAL AND STRATEGY The standard Flora of British mosses (Smith 1978, 2004) states that W. rostellata bears sporophytes in autumn and winter. However, on the basis that the species can only be identified reliably when well developed sporophytes are present (at least with the seta elongated), the dates of British and Irish distributional records imply capsules may be present in almost any month of the year (numbers in each month: Jan 3, Feb 4, Mar 2, Apr 3, May 2, Jun 1, Jul 0, Aug 14, Sep 3, Oct 5, Nov 1, Dec 2). Specimens checked by D.T. Holyoak likewise show a long season when well-developed capsules are present (Jan 4, Mar 2, Apr 4, Aug 10, Sep 1, Oct 6). There are apparently no clear differences between the phenology of sporophyte production in different regions of Britain and Ireland, or in different habitats. It is remarkable that exactly half (20 out of 40) of the records of sporophytes are from April to August, outside the 'autumn, winter' season (i.e. September-March) given in the standard literature. This may be partly because bryologists like other field botanists tend to be more active in spring and summer than in autumn and winter, so summer records may be somewhat over-represented. Also, falling water levels of reservoirs and ditches may tend to provide the bare muddy habitats suited to W. rostellata most frequently in late summer and early autumn. It would appear, nevertheless, that W. rostellata can bear sporophytes in any month when conditions are not too dry or too cold for its growth, as with some of its associates such as Pseudephemerum nitidum and Tortula truncata. Despite this, searches for the species on reservoir margins may be best carried out from late August to November, although searches in the winter and spring may also be worthwhile if water levels have remained low.

The comment that W. rostellata is 'ephemeral and mobile in its occurrence' (T.L. Blockeel in Hill et al. 1992: 308) should not be accepted uncritically or used as an argument that seeking to re-find it at historic sites is pointless. In fact, W. rostellata has rather large spores of diameter (18-) 22-27 µm and indehiscent capsules on short setae, both features that would hinder dispersal of the spores over more than short distances. 11 Persistence of the species at Gamlingay Wood, Cambridgeshire from 1957-1960 has been recorded by the late Dr H.L.K. Whitehouse, and it was recorded NE. of Mappowder in Dorset in 1960 and again in 2001, but bryologists have probably made few efforts to seek out its populations year after year. Furthermore, seeming impersistence of populations may be partly attributed to local extinctions resulting, for example, from agricultural improvement of wet pastures, or the lack of opportunities to seek a patchily distributed and often rare plant on reservoir margins in years when water levels remain high. The assumption that the closely related W. multicapsularis is a mobile colonist was firmly contradicted by research showing that its three populations then known had all persisted for 32-39 years since their original discovery (Holyoak 1999b).

3.3 SUMMARY OF HABITAT REQUIREMENTS Most of the recent records of W. rostellata are from the upper parts of inundation zones on the margins of reservoirs. A few are from soil in damp pastures or from arable fields. All of its sites appear to be characterised by incomplete vegetation cover and either seasonally high water-levels or water-retentive substrata. It occurs on mildly basic, neutral and slightly acidic soils.

4 Management Implications

Discourage maintenance of continuously high water-levels at certain reservoirs, lakes and large pools. Prevent drainage and agricultural ‘improvement’ of damp pastures with populations of W. rostellata. Encourage site managers to trim or remove trees that currently shade populations of W. rostellata.

5 Threats / Factors Leading to Loss or Decline or Limiting Recovery

Maintenance of continuously high water-levels at reservoirs, lakes and large pools (e.g. for water-supply and other operational reasons, or to benefit water-sports and angling interests). Eutrophication of water in reservoirs, lakes and large pools. Spread of Crassula helmsii. Drainage and agricultural ‘improvement’ of damp pastures. Shade from waterside trees.

6 Current Conservation Measures

Populations should be monitored, at least at a representative sample of sites. The field visits should be used to simultaneously monitor all rare bryophytes of lake and reservoir margins (Weissia rostellata, Riccia huebeneriana, Ephemerum cohaerens, Micromitrium tenerum). Habitat management advice should be provided to Site Managers, Environment Agency and lake owners. An illustrated leaflet has recently been prepared that describes the BAP and other threatened bryophyte species of inundation zones of 12 reservoirs and pools and provides information on their protection and habitat management, which should facilitate this.

7 References

Bagnall, J.E. (1891). The Flora of Warwickshire. London: Gurney & Jackson, Birmingham: Cornish Brothers. Bates, J.W. (1995). A bryophyte flora of Berkshire. Journal of Bryology, 18: 503-620. Bergamini, A. (2000). New national and regional bryophyte records, 3. Weissia rostellata (Brid.) Lindb. Switzerland: Canton of Bern. Journal of Bryology, 22: 303-304. Bergamini, A. & Meier, M. (2000). Zur Verbreitung von Weissia rostellata (Brid.) Lindb. in der Schweiz. Meylania, 23: 20-23. Blockeel, T.L. & Long, D.G. (1998). A check-list and census catalogue of British and Irish bryophytes. Cardiff: British Bryological Society. Buter, C. (2000). Weissia rostellata (Brid.) Lindb. (Dwerg-paarlmos) herontdeckt in Nederland. Buxbaumiella, 53: 42-43. Church, J.M., Hodgetts, N.G., Preston, C.D. & Stewart, N.F. (2001). British Red Data Books. Mosses and liverworts. Peterborough: JNCC. Crundwell, A.C. & Nyholm, E. (1972). A revision of Weissia, subgenus Astomum I. The European species. Journal of Bryology, 7: 7-19. Duckett, J.G. & Duckett, A.R. (1980). Reproductive biology and population dynamics of wild gametophytes of Equisetum. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 80: 1- 40. Düll, R. (1984). Distribution of the European and Macaronesian Mosses (Bryophytina). Part I. Bryologische Beiträge, 4: 1-113. European Committee for Conservation of Bryophytes. (1995). Red data book of european bryophytes. Trondheim: ECCB. Gardiner, J.C. (1981). A bryophyte flora of Surrey. Journal of Bryology, 11: 747-841. Guerra, J. (2002). Astomum Hampe. In Flora Briofítica Ibérica, Pottiaceae: Weissia, Astomum, Trichostomum, pp. 12-15. Murcia: Sociedad Española de Briología. Hill, M.O., Preston, C.D. & Smith, A.J.E. (1992). Atlas of the bryophytes of Britain and Ireland. vol. 2. Mosses (except Diplolepideae). Colchester: Harley Books. Holyoak, D.T. (1999a). Research on Biodiversity Priority Bryophyte Species in Northern Ireland during 1999. Final Report on results of fieldwork mainly in Co. Antrim and Co. Londonderry. Unpublished Report to Environment and Heritage Service. Holyoak, D.T. (1999b). Distribution, status and conservation of the moss Weissia multicapsularis. Final Report to English Nature Species Recovery Programme, Contract FIN/CON/077, March 1999. 37 pp. Unpublished. Holyoak, D.T. (2001). Beaked Beardless-moss (Weissia rostellata). Report to Plantlife on work carried out during 2000. Plantlife Report no. 183, 15 pp. [unpublished]. Holyoak, D.T. (2002). Violet Crystalwort (Riccia huebeneriana) and Beaked Beardless- moss (Weissia rostellata): Report to Plantlife on work carried out in southern England during 2001. Plantlife Report no. 198, 32 pp. Jones, E.W. (1953). A bryophyte flora of Berkshire and Oxfordshire. II Musci. Transactions of the British Bryological Society, 2: 220-277. Laflin, T. (1971). Bryophytes, pp. 654-736, in Cadbury, D.A., Hawkes, J.G. & Readett, R.C. A computer-mapped Flora. A study of the County of Warwickshire. London & New York: Academic Press. Megaw, W.R. (1938). In A Flora of the North-east of Ireland. 2nd ed. Belfast: Quota Press. 13 Monington, H. W. (1902). Botany (Bryophytes), in Victoria History of County of Surrey, pp. 51-56. Pavletic, Z. (1955). Prodromus Flore Briofita Jugoslavije. Zagreb. Perry, A.R. & Jones, E.W. (1998). The liverworts and mosses of Oxfordshire, pp. 301- 360, in Killick, J., Perry, R. & Woodell, S. The Flora of Oxfordshire. Newbury: Pisces Publications. Ros, M.A., Cano, M.J. & Guerra, J. (1999). Bryophyte checklist of Northern Africa. Journal of Bryology 21: 207-244. Rose, F., Stern, R.C., Matcham, H.W. & Coppins, B.J. (1991). Atlas of Sussex Mosses, Liverworts and Lichens. Brighton: Booth Museum of Natural History. Savicz-Ljubitzkaja, L.I. & Smirnova, Z.N. (1970). The Handbook of the Mosses of the U.S.S.R. The Mosses Acrocarpous. Leningrad. Smith, A.J .E. (1978). The Moss Flora of Britain and Ireland. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Smith, A.J. (2004). The moss flora of Britain and Ireland. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Szafran, B. (1957). Flora Polska. Mchy 1. Warsaw. Vajda, L. (1971). Bryologiai közlemények. 1-2. Bot. Közl., 58: 29-31. Whitehouse, H.L.K. (1983). Bryophytes, pp. 65-79, in Crompton, G. & Whitehouse, H.L.K. A Checklist of the Flora of Cambridgeshire. Cambridge: privately published. Wigginton, M.J. (1995). Mosses and Liverworts of North Lancashire. Lancaster: Centre for North-West Regional Studies, Lancaster University.

8 Acknowledgements Tom Blockeel, Sam Bosanquet, Katherine Cliffe, Prof. Jeff Duckett, Dr Jenny Duckworth, Dr Bob Finch, Dr Mark Hill, Nick Hodgetts, Geraldine Holyoak, Dr Neil Lockhart, Dr David Long, Howard Matcham, Mrs Jean Paton, Ron Porley, Dr Chris Preston, Gordon Rothero, Dr Fred Rumsey, Stephen Ward, Richard Weyl, the late Dr Harold Whitehouse; Department of BioSyB at National Museums and Galleries of Wales, Environment Agency, Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, National Parks and Wildlife Service (Ireland), South West Lakes Trust. Thanks also to Plantlife volunteer Dr James Peat for his editorial work on this dossier.

9 Contacts Plantlife International The Wild Plant Conservation Charity 14 Rollestone Street or contact enquiries: Salisbury [email protected] Wiltshire SP1 1DX Tel: 01722 342730

10 Links ARKive species web page for Weissia rostellata: http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/plants_and_algae/Weissia_rostellata/ British Bryological Society http://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/

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ISBN: 1 904749-55-0

Original draft by D.T. Holyoak Edited by Plantlife International First draft dated January 2005 Last revised 24 November 2006

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