Moss...that is.
For some reason Ive decided to try a bit of bottle gardening with various mosses. I think its a result of seeing some quite funky looking things on tinternet the last few months which have featured mosses in some way or another. Combined with the fact I encounter all the time when working, I figured itd not only be a bit of a hobby, but would help with my identification skills :|
Campylopus introflexus (I hope - pretty certain but it could be a native species...). There are several Campylopus species in the UK, but C. introflexus is from the southern hemisphere and very very very invasive. This stuff was collected from our patio, having fallen off the roof I think. Ive come across mats of it in heathlands which should otherwise have been Ericaceous species etc.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4178416439_55619b3c3c_b.jpg)
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4046/4179179202_e10fa867a1_o.jpg)
Polytrichum pilifera (I think) Another acrocarpous moss. Have come across Polytrichum spp. in the woods that are really lusch, foot deep etc etc.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4179184838_cddf0b140a_b.jpg)
And me being a bit creative with some Copper coated aluminium wire, and one of the spare test tubes I had lying around. I have a feeling the sample is Tetraphis pellucida, but wont really know until I get it growing a bit and under a microscope.
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2596/4179192030_bc6ea5b7d0_b.jpg)
Am hoping that when some LED lighting arrives next week Ill be able to move these to a shelf in my room, away from the windowsill :D
LoL becoming a mossy old man ? :)
You thinking of getting a girlfriend called Kate?
Tried this a long time ago, seemed successful until I accidentally cooked the moss in a window on a very hot day.
Aye.
Im hoping I can get a fair bit of practice in ID stuff considering how important bryophytes are. Would like to try and grow some of the rare things but want to make sure Im not going to kill em first. Getting permission to collect some samples shouldnt be an issue I hope either.
It was either this, or getting back into a nano/pico aquariums, which I have neither the time nor money to really pursue :D
Some of the things that have been inspiring:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4424781/Mat-made-of-moss-stays-alive-with-the-help-of-bath-water.html
and
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35598963
and
http://www.athenaeumhotel.com/location.aspx
(http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01251/moss-mat_1251030c.jpg) I like that :)
(http://www.athenaeumhotel.com/images/living-wall-landingpage.jpg)
Remember seeing something like that before... Paris maybe?
Aye, its some guy that goes and does them around the world. When I was in London in Oct I forced my friend to take me to the hotel so I could gawk. It was actually a little less unimpressive than in the photo.
I really love the mat, but at £220 to make its just a bit overpriced, and I have no idea how a mat could survive off of bath water, considering Im guessing there will be a fair bit of soap etc in it! Certainly if I were to shower with just water even itd kill most mosses off as our water is really hard and most mosses hate lime...
Quote from: SeriousYou thinking of getting a girlfriend called Kate?
Tried this a long time ago, seemed successful until I accidentally cooked the moss in a window on a very hot day.
story I heard about her...
off her face on drugs, stripped naked, got down on all fours & begged people to f**k her.
Quote from: EggtasticoQuote from: SeriousYou thinking of getting a girlfriend called Kate?
Tried this a long time ago, seemed successful until I accidentally cooked the moss in a window on a very hot day.
story I heard about her...
off her face on drugs, stripped naked, got down on all fours & begged people to f**k her.
You must have been heartbroken you missed it ;)
Version 2 of the test tubes:
(http://www.zpyder.co.uk/forums/tubecoils.jpg)
I figured the number of coils was a bit OTT, so went for a more elegant minimalist design...
I like them :) you could make a wine bottle holder aswell :P
Think Id need some stronger gauge wire for that! And some tools to actually be able to bend it!