309 



MOSSES AND HEPATICS OF THE BUCKDEN DISTRICT.* 



WILLIAM INGHAM, B.A. 



The most strikingf moss of the Buckden district is Camptotheciiim 

 sericeiim, which, with its large silky masses, covers the walls 

 and rocks almost everywhere. Next in abundance to this is the 

 pretty Hyptmm molluscurn, also in large tufts. Another moss 

 frequently met with on the dry walls and rocks is the curly- 

 leaved Trichostomum tortiiosum, which occurs in large rounded 

 tufts. 



Of the uncommon mosses, the large silky tufts of Orthotheciiim 

 iiitricatiim occur frequently on rocks in the wood opposite 

 Buckden, and on rocks by the gills. Trichostomum mutabile 

 var. cophocarpum, a beautiful moss, yellow above and red 

 below, and with its leaves neatly curled in the dry state, 

 although rare, is quite a marked feature of the moss-flora of 

 this district. It is a true xerophile, and prefers the shady 

 recesses of limestone rocks. It grows by the side of Buckden 

 Beck, in Deepdale, in Kirk Gill, and in the wood on Birk's Fell. 

 I traced it to Grassington, where it grows in the crevices of the 

 steep limestone cliffs by the side of Grass Wood, and it extends 

 down the Wharfe as far as the Strid, where I first found it 

 on i6th August 1900. It also occurs at Ingleton. Another 

 uncommon moss, Barhiila recurvifolia, also a xerophile, is 

 frequent on the rocks by the road to Oughtershaw, both the 

 ordinary state and a very tall slender form. It is also at home 

 on the dry limestone of ArnclifTe Clouder, and on similar rocks 

 by Grass Wood, Grassington. 



The Sphagna, or peat mosses, are poorly represented, and 

 three species only were seen, which will be noted later. 



A striking feature of the Hepatics or Liverworts is the 

 frequent occurrence of Scapania aspera, not hitherto, I believe, 

 recorded from the West Riding. It is a typical xerophile, 

 choosing the driest of rocks for its habitat, but always lime- 

 stone rocks. No doubt this hepatic, until distinguished on the 

 Continent, was often confounded with S. nemorosa or S. resupi- 

 nata. A good mark of distinction for S. aspera I find to be the 

 7 to 8 opaline papillae or warts on the face of each leaf-cell. 

 S. aspera is especially abundant on the dry rocks by the roadside 

 on the way to Oughtershaw. It also occurs on the dry rocks 

 by Buckden Gill, in the wood on Birk's Fell and in Cray Gill. 



* Meeting- of the Yorkshire Naturalists' Union, 30th July to 4th August 1904. 

 1904 October i. 



