Tuesday 9 May 2023
Moss with a view
The lengths I go to to learn about moss. At this port, I decided to be a bit more thorough about photographing the mosses, by taking some closer shots. I did this surrounded by stunning scenery, but by putting myself in mortal danger of potentially coming face to face with a wild bear.
Icy strait point is stunning. The snow sugared mountains surround the tiny port that has a population of just over 700 people. The sea was flat, reflecting the bright sun and forest lined mountains, and we saw humpback whales surfacing and blowing spouts. Bald eagles were catching fish, with ravens keen to take their prey. The macroscopic world is breathtaking. However, unnoticed by most visitors, moss was everywhere. The picture above shows a moss topped wooden post that overlooked the strait. This tiny community contains at least two species of moss and a a collection of lichen.
Although there were many species of moss, I homed in on three that caught my eye. I wanted to take some close up photos, so went for a stroll along the shoreline. I passed the bear activity sign below, so felt a bit under pressure to keep my wits about me. Once I passed the third warning sign, I decided to turn back. However, below I highlight three different moss gems that I found.
Golden threads
This looks like a proper carpet made up of tufts of golden threads. I’m pretty certain it’s a Brachythecium, but not so sure of the species. Absolutely gorgeous moss though, I’d quite happy have a rug in that colour.
Muppet fur
The most vivid of green, reminding me of Kermit the Frog’s fur, this moss was distinctively furry and soft to touch. Based on a Googlesearch (reverse image) and confirmation from iNaturalist, I think this is Dicranium moss or Broom forkmoss. Luscious green, fur like tufts growing amongst another moss. When I removed the tuft, I surprised how deep the stems were. The lower parts a brown colour, looking like dead parts of the green parts.
Yellow tufts
Another golden yellow moss, with a deep ‘pile’ caught my eye. When I pulled up just what I thought was a tuft, a whole long strand came with it! According to my sources, this is likely to be Rhytidiadelphus triquetrus, known as big shaggy moss.
Do correct me if I am wrong, as I am a moss novice!
Lichen with a view
Where there is moss, there is often lichen. The beard moss (Usnea) hung from trees that lined the banks of the strait and the tree stumps often had intricate lichen communities within the moss. Their matt, powdery, sage crusts dapple the moss covered soil or stumps.
A totem to moss?
In the center of the bus pick up area, I spotted this lovely wooden monument covered in moss. I have no idea what it is, what it is for or why it is there. It caught my eye, but again risking, life and limb I had to go beyond the pedestrian area to get a photograph. I got shooed away by a bus driver and a disapproving look the man in the visitor shed, but got a couple of shots.
From the safety of the ship, my husband took this picture of me doing me ‘mossing’ along the shoreline. Look carefully, you might see a bear in the shady woodland.
Thankfully, I haven’t spotted one yet.
This is the final of my Alaskan Mossing around the world series of blogs. I hope you have enjoyed them as much as I have enjoyed writing them. There will be more as I travel in the UK and around the world. Scroll done for a few bonus macroscopic beauties that I spotted in Icy Strait Point.
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Key
🔴 unconfirmed- it is my first attempt using a mixture of internet searches and reference books.
🟠 mildly confident- based on previous finds, a more detailed look at the plant, use of a key. another more expert person has confirmed the identification.
🟢 confident – detailed information used to identify the species based on close observation of leaves and structures, a key and the confirmation of more expert people.
The macroscopic extras
The humpbacked whales were surfacing regularly in the strait and there were several bald eagles catching fish. Here’s four photos that I took of them.
Moss Safari 