mcdonald@aries.scs.uiuc.edu (Doug McDonald) (07/26/90)
On my vacation to Alaska this summer I collected a bunch of plants for my terrarium. Ferns, mosses, liverworts, and Lycopodium. I am able to identify the ferns and Lycopodium with no problem. However I have found no useful books about mosses and liverworts. I do have a book, but it is very in-useful. It tries to have you identify things my a most complicated tree-type scheme, where you have to make dozens of tests, and one boo-boo and you are out of luck. Plus the illustrations are poor and some tests requires microscopic examination and even spores or spore cases! Does anybody have any suggestions on a better way. Are there any good books on mosses and liverworts? I even found books specific to the "flora of Alaska" - but, disgustingly, they are incomplete - they leave out mosses and liverworts (algae too). Doug McDonald (mcdonald@aries.scs.uiuc.edu)
JAHAYES@MIAMIU.BITNET (07/27/90)
I think you're kinda out of luck there. The problem is that mosses at least are classified by what are pretty obscure features to the naked eye, like spores and spore cases... It's not something an amateur would probably want to waste time on. If these are REAL common mosses, I believe there is a Golden guide (don't snicker, Goldens are often very useful) that may be able to help you get them identified to genus, if not species. Josh Hayes, Zoology Department, Miami University, Oxford OH 45056 voice: 513-529-1679 fax: 513-529-6900 jahayes@miamiu.bitnet, or jahayes@miamiu.acs.muohio.edu In the late Devouring Period, fish became obnoxious. Clamosaurs and Oysterettes appeared as appetizers.