Field key to the identification of mosses in North-West Europe

Key to groups

• Thallose liverworts

• Leafy liverworts

• Sphagnum

• Polytrichum, etc

• Grimmia, Tortula, etc (acrocarps with hair-points)

• Fissidens, etc (acrocarps with leaves in 2 ranks)

• Dicranum, (acrocarps with long pointed leaves) etc

• Mnium, etc (acrocarps with broad leaves)

• Bryum, etc (other acrocarps)

• Pleurocarps with flattened stem

• Pleurocarps with curved leaves

• Other pleurocarps

• Brachythecium

Most of these keys are based on the field key by Watson (see Acknowlegements) but altered. Note this key is only valid for north-west Europe. For a more up-to-date key see the British Bryological Society online field guide.

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