It had been a lovely day (Feb. 2nd)at Dixon, but now the weather was changing. Weather forecast called for late afternoon showers. Then there were other evening plans. So we turned for the walk back to the car.
Housekeeping note: Apparently there is something that caused the email notifications not to be sent out. Sorry about that. IT (ie Jim) is working to find a solution to the problem. The We hit Bottom (Feb 8th) post can be found here if you missed it. Fingers crossed this one goes.
Jeanne had another moss to collect, #384!
It was a beauty! However you might notice there is more than one species in the photos. That is often the case when collecting.
The limestone rocks lie exposed to the surface. I see a shark gobbling its prey.
A profile of a face!
A ruffle lichen (tentatively Parmotrema praesorediosum) with algae soiled on the upper thallus and Slender Orange-bush (Teloschistes exilis).
More moss collected, #386!
A small lichen, tentatively a Caloplaca. This genus belongs in the same family as the Golden-eye Lichen, Teloschistaceae.
One characteristic of the Teloschistaceae are the polarilocular spores. It’s a type of spore that has two cells that has a channel that runs between them like these. This photo are the spores from Caloplaca galactophylla (now Squamulea galactophylla)I collected in 2020. Sorry but you can only see the spores under a compound scope.
A lovely chocolate brown mushroom!
A squashed mussel fossil!
It was sprinkling harder. Indeed we had timed it just perfect!
A great day at Dixon! Thank you to the Dixon Water Foundation for letting us explore!
We collect for knowledge for the species that grow in our area and future references to be used by scientists. Every specimen (plants, mosses, lichens) we collect goes to a herbarium either in Texas or Oklahoma. These specimens are not for our personal use or collection. We take all the relative collection data for each specimen. We have also collected seeds for NRCS and for researchers that are studying a particular genus. And we always have the necessary permissions.
I’m intrigued by that tantalizing rock formation at the top 9f the distant hill in your first photo. I don’t recognize it; I probably haven’t been to that spot.
That mushroom looks good enough to eat as is. Hope you didn’t get wet feet crossing road. BTW i didn’t get blog in email tonight.
IT guy still working on the problem. 😊 thanks!
Are you collecting mosses just for identification or for another purpose?
We collect for knowledge for the species that grow in our area and future references to be used by scientists. Every specimen (plants, mosses, lichens) we collect goes to a herbarium either in Texas or Oklahoma. These specimens are not for our personal use or collection. We take all the relative collection data for each specimen. We have also collected seeds for NRCS and for researchers that are studying a particular genus. And we always have the necessary permissions.
I’m intrigued by that tantalizing rock formation at the top 9f the distant hill in your first photo. I don’t recognize it; I probably haven’t been to that spot.
We have been exploring. 😊