Observing mosses on a Brooklyn stone wall

Meeting Location: We will meet at the entrance of Dyker Playground, on southside of 86th Street between 13th and 14th Avenues. (Clink on this link to see location on Google Maps: )

Trip leader: Zihao Wang, local botanist.

Early spring is not only a good time to see spring flowers, but also the perfect opportunity to observe mosses in pleasant weather. In Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, we will observe mosses, lichens, and algae growing on an old stone wall, undisturbed by the hustle of city life.

We will move at a very slow pace, closely examining this tiny but resilient ecosystem thriving on stones and mortar. Common mosses include ubiquitous urban species such as Syntrichia papillosa (Marble Screwmoss) and Entodon seductrix (Glossy Moss), and uncommon species include Clasmatodon parvulus, Leucodon julaceus, and Claopodium rostratum. We will briefly discuss the ecology of bryophytes and show printed pictures of the moss leaves viewed under microscopes. Hopefully we will gain more appreciation of these adorable tiny plants by the end of the walk.

Please come prepared with your own hand lens, and be ready to patiently scan every stone on the wall.

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Host or Publisher The Torrey Botanical Society