Moss

This is the tips document for USID Moss Guide found at DiscoverLife.org The purpose of the guide is to stimulate interest in documenting the moss of Idaho. Please consider reporting your identifications on the site as you identify them. It is a guide and not a scientific key to moss identification. If you are looking for a scientific key I recommend Flora of North America: North of Mexico Volume 27 : Bryophytes: Mosses, Part 1 and 2 and soon to be published Part 3.

The guide is still under development. I am still adding moss descriptions and planning to add more images as time and travel permits. Server upgrades to increase security from http to https have caused many links to photographs to crash. If you see a not found error copy the link to a new page and add an s to the http url.

How to collect specimens

Moss maybe collected year round but April to October is the best time for full development of capsule and color. You may need to visit the field site a couple of times to determine optimum timing. National Parks including Historic Sites and Monuments and many State Parks do not allow sample collection but imaging is always permitted. Avoid collecting samples in high use sites such as picnic areas and trail heads. Always ask permission before collecting samples when collecting on private land.

I have stopped collecting herbarium quality specimens and now take a digital approach. It embraces new technology, improved internet access and the need to conserve space. Many herbaria are also digitizing specimens to conserve space and improve access to their collection. If you are collecting for a herbarium contact the director to conform with their standards.

My collection methods use digital images plus a small representative sample that fits into a 2 x 2 inch pocket of a vinyl coin flip. See Macro Photography for digital imaging hints. Images should include a vertical and side image of the whole moss. Use a long sheet rock screw as a pick to scrape a sample fragment of the moss structures (leaves and capsules). Shred the sample so single leaves are separated from stem. Less sample is better than more when sampling for packet. A flat toothpick will help to place fragments in vinyl packet. Take the time to record notes for each moss packet!!! It is tempting to collect lots of moss at a site but it is better to collect a few with good photos and notes. Notes to record for each moss include location (lat/long from gps) and date. Finally take an image of the completed packet placed next to the sampling site before collecting the next moss. This last photo indicates the size of the moss, but usually also ends up being the only one in focus.

The flips are used by coin collectors and stored in 2 x 2 inch slide pages and a 3 ring binder. Before going to the field add a piece of card stock to a pocket for notes and a flat toothpick in the other to aid drying. The vinyl flip allows two sided identification and replaced the need to make a glass slide for microscopic viewing. It is a big advantage over the old card and paper packet system I used for many years. Vinyl coin flips are 100 for $7-8 and pages are 20 for $5-6 from EBay.com or a company specializing in coin collecting.

Download the images to your computer and tag images with the location.

Using the Guide

Before starting to use the guide use a microscope to determine type of leaf tip, leaf rib length (costa), leaf margin texture and shape and capsule characteristics. You may need to tease the leaf or capsule with the flat tooth pick for a better view.

Start with the main menus. If you are not sure select the Explain or select the picture for further explanation. Leave blank or select multiple boxes when in doubt. Select additional criteria using simplify ( in the upper left) and search for additional features. The guide can be used on any device with internet access. Colors in the key are summer and fall color if you collect in the winter and spring the color may be green to light green. Dead moss will often express a red or orange color. Capsule stalk bend is at maturity. Capsule stalks will often be bent 180 degrees during early capsule development.