The developing spore capsules of wall screw-moss, Tortula muralis, spotlit by the low winter sun.
The capsules are still in the early stages of development but when they're ripe they'll shed their spores through a remarkable mechanism that involves the uncurling of a set of teeth, twisted like a screw thread, arranged around the mouth of the capsule. You can see them here.
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The lighting on the first shot is excellent. Thanks for linking back to your earlier post about this Moss, I hadn't seen it but have now, of course, learned something new - thank you Phil.
ReplyDeleteThe light was just right for a short while toffeeapple, just skimming over the top of the wall - lucky to be in the right place at the right time...
DeleteNice backlit shot! I find photographing mosses to be very challenging - so little stays in focus at the macro scale!
ReplyDeleteI followed your link - fascinating! Nature never ceases to amaze me.
I know what you mean about photographing mosses Ellen - most of my pictures of them are disappointing, with too much confusing out-of-focus detail.
DeleteThose moss capsule setae resemble optic fibres in your second pic, Phil - is this another instance of nature having got there first?
ReplyDeleteInteresting thought Rob.I think Faberge would have made moss capsules as jewellery if he'd been known about them, with all their lids and secret compartments...
ReplyDeleteHello Phil,
ReplyDeleteI have ended up here after a quick internet search to find out about the moss I photographed last Saturday. The picture is on my blog
http://lizzielenard-vintagesewing.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/a-pretty-picture-for-sunday-moss-on.html
I am so glad I ended up here - the moss is more fascinating than I could have hoped for.
I have put a link on my blog post so people can come here and see your beautiful photos.
Many thanks from Somerset
Hello Lizzie, thanks for the kind comments, delighted that my blog was useful!
ReplyDelete