Many interesting finds were made during the recent John Child Bryophyte Workshop, including the moss Hylocomium splendens (the “Stair-step Moss”).
Splendid indeed! The moss Hylocomium splendens. The "splendens" part of the scientific name actually translates to "shining, glistening, or brilliant". Photo by Matt Renner. (c) Matt Renner.
Landcare Research’s Allan Fife, a moss expert who identified this species, writes:
“This species is found through much of the temperate northern hemisphere, but it is known from the temperate southern hemisphere only from a few high-elevation localities in the North Island. It is a remarkable example of a bipolar disjunct moss species.”
“In the Department of Conservation’s Threat Classification List, H. splendens is considered to be “sparse” in occurrence, with a qualifying term “data poor.” Several workshop participants found it near Sunrise Hut in the Ruahine Ranges. Although previously recorded from high-elevation sites at Mt. Hikurangi, Mt Hector & Field Pk in Tararuas, and from the Ruahines, none of the workshop participants had seen before this characteristic but poorly-documented species.”
“The workshop collections are significant because they were made from a range of elevations and habitats, clarifying the morphological variation, distribution, altitudinal range and habitat preferences of Hylocomium in New Zealand”.
