My afternoon was open. Of course I had to get out to the grasslands on this sunny and relatively warm day before the cold arrives Saturday. Plus I wanted to check on a few friends.
This Yellow Scale (Psora icterica) was starting to grow its apothecia (fruiting bodies). When they are mature the apothecia will turn from the ochre color to a dark brown to almost black.
Friend number one, Funaria serrata moss!
It’s capsules are starting to turn darker. I have never paid this much attention to a single moss and its growth. Indeed, I like my friend!
Moving further along there was a Turban Cap Lichen (Cladonia peziziformis) at small ditch bank cut.
An Atrichum moss has darker center on the leaf. This is called the costa. And the reason Atrichum is darker it has lamellae. The lamellae are like little fingers projecting up. Lamellae Story Debunked has some nice closeups of lamellae, but a different genus.
A colorful thalloid liverwort!
New growth, but of what I don’t know. However I just liked them with their hairy edges.
Hope y’all got out today. If not maybe tomorrow, eh. 🙂
We can’t ruin enough here on earth so let’s just ruin our skies. So sad.
Some of the Funaria here is starting to put up capsules too – seem to be taking their time!
Great article and pics on the lamellae on Atrichum.