Bryophytes of springs and flushes - 2009 course notes - Plantlife

Philonotis calcarea) to moderately acidic. The common feature is the often extensive mats of
Philonotis fontana usually with a mix of other bryophytes including Dichodontium palustris,
Brachythecium rivulare, Bryum pseudotriquetrum, Scapania undulata and on the margins
Sphagnum denticulatum. Higher stands may also have Bryum weigelii (the pink in the flush
above bottom right), Philonotis seriata and Scapania uliginosa (above bottom left). Lower
down many flushed areas have stands of Philonotis fontana, often with the typical associates
but the vascular plant component is usually different, often Montia fontana or
Chrysosplenium oppositifolium.
M33 Pohlia wahlenbergii var. glacialis spring
This is the arctic-montane equivalent of the
M32 flush characterised by large pure stands
of Pohlia wahlenbergii var. glacialis, which
are often visible from some distance.
Associated bryophyte species are often
limited but include Philonotis fontana, Pohlia
ludwigii, Scapania uliginosa, Scapania
undulata and Marsupella sphacelata.
M37 Palustriella commutata – Festuca rubra spring and M38 Palustriella commutata –
Carex nigra spring
These are the ‘brown moss’ springs characterised by large stands of Palustriella commutata
or Palustriella falcata, often to the exclusion of other bryophytes. They often occur as small
patches at the spring-head of other calcareous flush types but in limestone areas can form
extensive stands often with some tufa formation.
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