Clubmosses of Bowfell

On Friday's walk up Esk Pike and Rossett Pike, Tom stopped off on the eastern flanks of Bowfell, from the walk up Rossett Gill. This was an attempt to find the interrupted clubmoss (Lycopodium annotinum) at it's sole site in the English Lake District. While it grows reasonably commonly in Highland Scotland, it has become extinct at its sites in the Southern Uplands and Wales. While we didn't eventually find the clubmoss, we did see three other species of clubmoss: fir clubmoss (Huperzia selago), stag's-horn clubmoss (Lycopodium clavatum) and alpine clubmoss (Diphasiastrum alpinum), with the latter two species being new to him. 

Fir clubmoss (left) and stag's-horn clubmoss (right).

The eastern flank of Bowfell, looking over to Rossett Gill. 

Fir clubmoss.

Fir clubmoss.

Fir clubmoss, looking down Rossett Gill.

Fir clubmoss looking up the slope.

Fir clubmoss on the top of Rossett Pike.

Stag's-horn clubmoss (bottom photo showing distinctive dual cones).

Stag's-horn clubmoss.

Stag's-horn clubmoss- showing the distinctive ID features of the species. There are two cones (opposed to a single cone on the interrupted clubmoss) which protrude on a stalk (the interrupted clubmoss doesn't) and the leaves have white hairs on the ends (the interrupted clubmoss doesn't).

Stag's-horn clubmoss cones.

Stag's-horn clubmoss.

Stag's-horn clubmoss.

Alpine clubmoss.