Browse Bryophytes - March 2024
Bryophytes are small, non-vascular, spore-bearing plants which include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. They are pioneers of barren surfaces such as rocks, tree trunks, and pavement, and play essential roles in nutrient cycling, soil formation, and water retention.
An inventory of the bryophytes of New York City has never been published, but there are currently 85 species with Research Grade observations available on iNaturalist. Your observations will help to further our understanding of the variety and abundance of bryophytes in our city!
How many species can you find this March?
How to Get Started
- Download the iNaturalist app or register at iNaturalist.org.
- Photograph Mosses, Liverworts, and Hornworts anywhere in New York City. Use a macro lens or magnifier held over your camera phone lens to get close- up photos of leaves, sporangia, and other features.
- Upload your observations to iNaturalist.
- Respect wildlife (do not touch, feed, or disturb animals, and keep a safe distance).
What is the Goal?
Help document as many bryophytes as possible by March 31.
The New York City EcoFlora project seeks to enhance the ecological literacy of all New Yorkers and to compile new and original data on the City’s flora and ecological dynamics.