Bryolog 43 (21 July 2026)

Upcoming

  • Please vote for President Elect and Treasurer by August 1st, 2026. LINK TO BALLOT

Ongoing

  • Monthly Member Meeting: Aug 27th 2026, and every fourth Thursday of the month, @ 6:00–7:00 p.m. PST on Zoom. See event updates page for details.
  • Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, biweekly Bryophyte and Lichen Surveys coordinated by Chris Coshland. If interested, please contact mossgeek@yahoo.com.

Quarterly Updates

  • SOBEFREE 30 in San Diego was a blast! See the report below and entry in our archive for details. HERE.
  • Grant recipient Matthew Yamamoto provided an outstanding report of the bryophyte findings of their Flora of McGee Creek Watershed. HERE.
  • Liat Adler and Ken Schneider hosted a fantastic Intro to Bryophytes workshop at Stanford. HERE.
  • The Bryophyte Chapter co-hosted this year’s meeting of the CNPS Board of Directors and Chapter Council in Berkeley. HERE.
  • This year’s CNPS Conference included a bryophyte workshop and bryophyte and lichen symposium. HERE
  • Bill Buck and Jim Shevock taught a Jepson Herbarium Advanced Bryology workshop on Pleurocarpous Mosses, April 11-12, 2026. LINK.
  • Congrats to Jordan Collins, who won the Fern and Bryophyte category for Calflora’s annual photo contest! LINK
  • Paul Wilson provided an informative workshop for the National Wildlife Refuge. See handout HERE.
  • Paul also gave an online lecture to the Friends of the Lost Coast, which can be viewed HERE.
  • John McLaughlin and Brent Mishler gave bryophyte talks to the CNPS North Coast Chapter. LINK 1, LINK 2
  • Ben Carter held a wonderful bryophyte workshop at Cal Bot Garden. LINK
  • Brent Mishler, Eric Harris, and Anthony Sarkiss led a bryophyte walk on March 14, 2026 at Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve above Oakland for a dozen botanists, naturalists, and resource managers from the East Bay Regional Park District.  The goal was to increase their awareness of bryophytes in their conservation and educational activities.  Participants were enthusiastic and the event seemed to be a success. Checklist LINK.
  • Southern California bryophyte and lichen survey updates from Chris Coshland and crew:
    • Silver Strand State Beach survey completed as of Jan 2026.
    • San Elijo State Beach survey completed as of Feb 2026.
    • Cardiff State Beach survey completed as of Feb 2026.
    • San Elijo Lagoon and Ecological Reserve permitting in progress.

Timeless Bits

A report on the bryophyte findings from The Vascular and Nonvascular Flora of the McGee Creek Watershed, Mono County, California

By Matthew Yamamoto, California Botanic Garden

About the site

Located on the eastern slope of the central Sierra Nevada, about a 15-minute drive south of Mammoth Lakes, the McGee Creek watershed is a geologically and topographically diverse portion of one of California’s most spectacular mountain ranges. The watershed covers 27.28 mi2 (70.65 km2), and nearly two-thirds of this area is within the John Muir Wilderness. Elevation ranges from 6750 to 12,999 ft (2057–3962 m), and as one would expect, a large variety of vegetation and habitat types decorate the slopes across this range of elevations. The underlying geology includes granitic rock, but, unusual for the Sierra Nevada, it also includes substantial amounts of marble and non-calcareous metamorphic rock.

The watershed’s high habitat heterogeneity and the presence of high-elevation calcareous rock make it likely to host a great deal of plant diversity, including edaphic specialists that are uncommon in the Sierra Nevada. However, relatively little bryological attention had been afforded to the McGee Creek drainage before 2024. A total of 40 bryophyte collections (made by Paul Wilson, Michèle Slaton, and Eve Lager) were made in the watershed before 2024. A major goal of this floristic

Fig. 1. The McGee Creek watershed and its spectacular geologic diversity, as seen from the Sierra Nevada crest.

Methods, in brief

I made 670 bryophyte collections during 139 days of fieldwork in the summers of 2024 and 2025. Ben Carter (346 collections), Jim Shevock (56), and Dana York (3) very helpfully made many additional bryophyte collections during these two years. Specimen determinations were primarily made by David Toren (mosses) and Alan Whittemore (liverworts), with select specimens also determined by Ben Carter, Brent Mishler, John Brinda, and John Spence. Nomenclature follows the Bryophyte Nomenclator (https://www.bryonames.org/).

Results, by the numbers

The bryoflora of the McGee Creek watershed includes 206 species (208 minimum-rank taxa), belonging to 50 families and 103 genera. This number includes 33 liverwort species, 173 moss species, and no hornworts. In total, bryophytes make up 21% of the known plant diversity of the watershed. The most species-rich bryophyte families in the watershed are Bryaceae (25 species), Grimmiaceae (19), Mniaceae (19), Pottiaceae (20), and Amblystegiaceae (17), and the most species-rich bryophyte genera are Ptychostomum (13), Grimmia (11), Pohlia (11), Schistidium (7), Drepanocladus (5), Encalypta (5), and Philonotis (5).

Notable finds

A collection made in 2025 (Yamamoto 2077, RSA ) represents the first confirmed report of Barbilophozia lycopodioides in California. It was found just below treeline at 10,674 ft (3253 m) on a NW-facing slope of granitic rock where the snow lingers until very late in the year.

Three species collected in the McGee Creek watershed are newly reported for the Sierra Nevada: Asterella lindenbergiana, Plagiobryum zieri, and Tortella alpicola. 

Amblyodon dealbatus is reported for the second time in California, from three collections in the McGee Creek watershed.

Collections of a Mielichhoferia sp. and a Grimmia sp. are believed to represent undescribed taxa (J. Shevock, J. Muñoz, pers. comm.). Collections of the Mielichhoferia appear to match a collection made previously by Jim Shevock near Baxter Pass in Fresno County, but sporophytes of these high-elevation plants are still unknown. Research on both taxa is ongoing.

Twenty-five bryophyte taxa collected in 2024 and 2025 are newly reported for Mono County: Amblyodon dealbatus, Asterella lindenbergiana, Barbilophozia hatcheri, Brachythecium erythrorhizon, Encalypta ciliata, E. procera, Fuscocephaloziopsis catenulata, F. lunulifolia, Liochlaena lanceolata, Meesia uliginosa, Philonotis breutelioides, Physcomitrium pyriforme, Plagiobryum zieri, Pohlia greenei, P. proligera, P. tundrae, Riccia glauca, Ruficaulis rufescens, Schistidium confertum, S. splendens, Sciuro-hypnum latifolium, Streblotrichum convolutum, Tortella alpicola, Tortula obtusifolia, and Trichostomum crispulum. Additionally, two collections have provisionally been identified as Grimmia trichophylla and Imbribryum torenii, and, if confirmed, these would also be new for Mono County.

Five bryophyte taxa newly reported for the McGee Creek watershed currently have CNPS rare plant ranks: Bruchia bolanderi (4.3), Helodium blandovii (2B.2), Meesia uliginosa (2B.2), Pohlia tundrae (2B.3), and Tortella alpicola (2B.3).

Fig. 2. Selected bryophytes of the McGee Creek watershed. Liverworts. (A). Barbilophozia lycopodioides (Anastrophyllaceae). (B). Blepharostoma trichophyllum (Blepharostomataceae). (C). Marchantia quadrata (Marchantiaceae). (D). Chiloscyphus polyanthos (Lophocoleaceae). Mosses. (E). Schistidium dupretii (Grimmiaceae). (F). Bruchia bolanderi (Bruchiaceae). (G). Polytrichastrum alpinum (Polytrichaceae). (H). Fissidens bryoides (Fissidentaceae). (I). Batramia ithyphylla (Bartramiaceae). (J). Encalypta rhaptocarpa (Encalyptaceae). (K). Helodium blandovii (Helodiaceae). (L). Plagiobryum zieri (Bryaceae).

Additional notes on the distribution of bryophytes in the watershed

Using specimen collections, I characterized the elevational distribution of each bryophyte taxon in the watershed, then aggregated these individual ranges to estimate species richness as it varies by elevation. Bryophyte richness is greatest at mid elevations, which are dominated by lodgepole pine and mountain hemlock forest (through which many streams and streamlets flow), but where a few meadows and a Sphagnum fen occur as well. Like vascular plant richness, bryophyte richness decreases greatly above ca. 10,400 ft (3170 m) as coniferous forest transitions to the harsh, alpine environment. While vascular plant diversity is quite substantial at the lowest elevations of the watershed, bryophyte diversity is fairly low below 8000 ft. The lowest elevations of the watershed are somewhat alkaline and disturbed by cattle grazing and favor relatively few bryophyte species.

Fig. 3. Number of species in the McGee Creek watershed by elevation. Data presented is a summary of individual species elevation ranges estimated from herbarium specimens. For species that can readily be identified in the field or from photos, associated taxa lists on herbarium specimens and high-quality iNaturalist observations were also used to estimate elevational ranges.

Given that roads and trails are the easiest places to make collections, I estimated the proportion of species in the watershed that can be found within 3 m of a road or a trail. In 2025, I surveyed the entirety of the road and trail system of the watershed four times, making collections to understand bryophyte richness along these corridors. Amazingly, 73% of bryophyte species documented in the watershed during 2024 and 2025 were never found within 3 m of a road or a trail. As many botanists intuit, while roads and trails are convenient, the greatest diversity of habitats, and some of the most interesting microhabitats, will not necessarily be placed conveniently along a trail. Many thanks to the intrepid bryologists who have worked to teach me how to seek out interesting bryophyte habitats, many of which took a lot of work to get to!

Many thanks

I was incredibly grateful to receive support for this research from the CNPS Bryophyte Chapter in the form of a student research grant. Having started grad school without experience collecting and identifying bryophytes, I am very appreciative of the support of Chapter members in sending me on a long journey of bryological exploration. Special thanks to Ben Carter, who got me on my feet, bryologically speaking, both in the field and at the microscope. Special thanks also to Jim Shevock for his mentorship and help in processing specimens.

Report on SO BE FREE 30 in Southern San Diego County

By Liat Adler, with contributions from Jake Bauer, Jenna Ekwealor, Nio Gonzalez, and Michael Collins

Every spring, bryophyte chapter members far and wide gather for the annual foray, SO BE FREE. This year, the chapter swapped the moist river bank of Mattole for the dry heat of Jamul, San Diego County where the 30th SO BE FREE was held 27–30 March 2026. Led by Chris Coshland and assisted by Jake Bauer, we saw some amazing bryos, beautiful scenery and enjoyed catching up over microscopes and wine. Foray locations included what was described as a ‘treacherous gorge’ (Kitchen Creek Falls), Otay Mountain and even some vernal pools!

The traditional beginners session and walk was held the first morning, led by Brent Mishler, esteemed founder of SO BE FREE. While some groups headed right out to the day’s field excursions, beginners got oriented with an introductory session before exploring Indian Hills Camp on foot, where questions were encouraged and new bryologists could begin “seeing through more experienced eyes,” as first-timer Michael C. put it. Even close to camp there was plenty to admire, from common species such as Grimmia laevigata and Frullania bolanderi, to the less common moss Fabronia pusilla. A mysterious Syntrichia species also caused quite a stir in the microscope room later that day, prompting lively discussion as it keyed out in unclear or conflicting directions under the scopes. This is typical of the San Diego “Syntrichia montana,” and experts in the room speculated that this may represent a yet-to-be described taxa.

Kitchen Creek Falls was a hot hike to a refreshing creek. Intrepid hikers were rewarded by pretty liverworts Riccia cavernosa, Calasterella californica, and Targionia hypophylla. Cascades of Hedwigia detonsa and large mats of Grimmia laevigata covered the dry granite boulders of the area. John MacLaughlin pointed out the highly crispate moss Vinealobryum eckeliae, which when viewed under the scopes was seen to have awesomely crenate margins! While admiring the abundant Bryum flabelliforme growing on wet rock, we bryologists even got distracted by the abundantly growing Chara algae.

Riccia cavernosa, wet soil along Kitchen Creek (photo by Jake Bauer); Chris and crew at first day of bryo hunting (Photo by Chris Coshland); Vinealobryum eckeliae showing highly crispate leaves when dry (Photo by Jake Bauer)

Group accommodation – our own mini highstreet! (Photo by Jake Bauer); Hedwigia detonsa on a dry rock (photo by Jake Bauer); Bryologists being viewed through glass for a change! (Photo by Stacey Anderson)

The second day took half the group along Mission Trails where moist ground provided ample sightings of hornworts, bottlepore liverworts and mosses. For beginner Nio G., a highlight was spotting a hornwort by the creek after some careful rock-balancing, part of a hike they described as welcoming, informative, and confidence-building. Southernmost range extensions were discovered for two taxa on this trip: In shady crags Cryptomitrium tenerum was found sporting its distinctive “UFO” shaped carpocephalum, and the tiny Ephemerum serratum was also spotted amidst the healthy exposed soil crusts. Ambling down Oak Canyon Trail, Jake took us to a newly found population of the rare moss, Triquetrella californica, and demonstrated its unique appearance both dry and hydrated.

Lee Gordon from the San Diego CNPS Chapter guided us carefully around the delicate Mira Mesa vernal pool habitat. This land was recently acquired by CNPS to protect the sensitive ecosystem, and is home to endangered species of vascular plants, invertebrates, and of course bryophytes. Many Riccia species were seen, most of which had dried up for the season and turned a beautiful black (R. nigrella), white (R. lamellosa) or even orange (R. campbelliana) depending on the species. The highlight of the vernal pool, however, was the liverwort Geothallus tuberosus, spotted by John Brinda! A new record for this site. On closer examination under the microscope, abundant Geothallus was found intermixed with collections of Asterella bolanderi that were made right in the middle of the trail!

Cryoptomitrium tenerum spotted in a shady crevice (Photo by Jake Bauer); Rebecca getting to grips with some rocky moss (Photo by Chris Coshland); Stacey filming Alex’s leaf sectioning technique in front of an enthralled audience (Photo by Jordan Collins)

Searching for Geothallus at Mira Mesa Vernal Pools (Photo by Liat Adler); Desiccated Geothallus tuberosus found at the vernal pool site (Photo by Jake Bauer); First gen and next gen SO BE FREE participants learning from eachother (photo by Jenna Ekwealor)

On the same day, Chris Coshland led her group to cover the Otay Mountain area, which had never been formally surveyed for byrophytes. Eighty bryophyte species have now been recorded thanks to chapter members Chris and Jordan Collins. In addition to the common San Diego bryo suite, two uncommon liverworts, Marsupella bolanderi and Cephaloziella hampeana, were found at this site. An exciting non-bryological find Chris made was the lichenicolous fungus Rhagadodidymellopsis endocarpi, which would be a first occurrence in North America since a 2020 description of a new species.

Back at camp, the chapter welcomed Jenna Ekwealor as its new president. Alongside successful botanising, this year also saw some excellent artistic and educational contributions. Hand-designed stickers of the Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha by Sharon Estrada were available for purchase and two excellent submissions for chapter merch were submitted and appreciated by all. On the education front, Stacy Anderson recorded multiple members’ methods for making leaf sections for a ‘how-to’ video series.

Group photo; President Kirsten Fisher notably absent as she’s taking the photo!

Report on Intro to Bryophytes workshop at Stanford

By Liat Adler

In January, Bryophyte chapter members Ken Schneider and Liat Adler organised an “intro to bryophytes” workshop on Stanford’s campus. A diverse group of Stanford students and staff joined for the day with backgrounds ranging from photography, palaeobotany and physics.  The day included a lecture from Liat doing her best to live up to Brent Mishler, a field trip, lunch, and keying session. The lecture covered the evolutionary position of bryophytes, their life cycle, how to know if you’re looking at a moss, liverwort or hornwort (supported by the fantastic photos from Amanda Heinrich’s bryophytes of Santa Barbra website) and a brief deep dive into hornworts and their pyrenoids.

Equipped with this newfound knowledge, the group did a tour around campus spotting many interesting bryophytes. First stop was an epiphytic moss on an oak tree. It was a warm dry day, and Ken used the opportunity to demonstrate the amazing rehydration ability of mosses. Next, we went to the entrance to the Lake Lagunita to a curvy concrete wall in the shape of an ‘S’ which, in this case, stood for Sphaerocarpos! This wall and neighbouring concrete were home to a sprawling carpet of bottle pore liverworts. Previous analysis of the spores by Liat revealed this was a mixed population of S. texanus and S. cristatus. The gasps of people seeing these beautiful liverworts for the first time echoed around, including Ken who was pictured executing a high-level bryologist observation technique:

(1) Ken checking out the bottle pore liverwort carpet. (2-3) Close ups of the Sphaerocarpos plants. Male plants can be seen with the red-brown structures.

The final stop was a little gulch by Lake Lagunita, which is home to many hornworts and liverworts. Students clambered down and put theory into practice. Highlights from this little pocket of mud included Crescent-cup liverwort (Lunularia cruciate), common frillwort (Fossombronia pusilla), and hornworts (genus Paraphymatoceros and friends). We even saw the cute little umbrella style archegoniophores of Cryptomitrium tenerum starting to peek up.

(1) People checking out the gulch. (2) Hornwort colony. (3) Crescent-cup liverwort (Lunularia cruciate). (4) Cryptomitrium tenerum

After a fruitful trip and lunch, Ken led a session on the scopes. He took us through the basics of moss leaf morphology and key terms encountered in keys. We chose our first epiphytic moss to ID and went through the key as a group. We settled on the genus Syntrichia!

(1) A totally candid shot of us looking at the mossy grass. (2) Getting to grips with the scopes. (3) Ken works some IT magic to project his scope on the screen and takes us through leaf morphological features. (4) The happy bryo squad!

A great time had by all and one participant noted: “I loved the effort and enthusiasm from Liat and Ken in organizing and sharing their knowledge/expertise. I left having learnt so much about identifying and characterizing Bryophytes. Thanks!”

CNPS Council Meeting, June 5-7th, 2026  

Report by Brent Mishler

Along with the East Bay Chapter, the Bryophyte Chapter co-hosted a meeting of the CNPS Board of Directors and Chapter Council in Berkeley.  This was the largest such meeting in years.  President Jenna Ekwealor gave a report on the Bryophyte Chapter, and we led an associated bryophyte field trip guided by Kirsten Fisher, Jenna Ekwealor, Brent Mishler, and Jordan Collins.

Presentations at the Chapter Council meeting, in Berkeley. 

Thank you to Bryophyte Chapter representatives Kirsten Fisher, Jenna Ekwealor, Brent Mishler, and Jordan Collins for helping organize and host this year’s Council Meeting!

Bryology at this year’s CNPS Conference!

Report by Jake Bauer

The bryophyte workshop and conservation symposium from the 2026 CNPS Conference in Riverside went swimmingly!

    • Jordan Collins and John MacLaughlin led a wonderful bryophyte dissection, microscopy, and keying workshop.
    • Ben Carter gave a talk on the exciting bryophyte conservation work currently being done in the state and beyond.
    • John MacLaughlin presented their collaborative mesophyll project which integrated interdisciplinary survey techniques for assessing the biodiversity of this under-studied category of organisms.
    • Chris Coshland talked on the importance of in-depth organized surveys for bryophyte and lichen floristics, showcasing her work on the Torrey Pines Bryophyte and Lichen flora.

Presentations were recorded and can be viewed on Youtube (LINK).

Miscellanea

Bryophyte meme, by Chris Coshland

 

Bryolog

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