The Moss Manual / Beyond the profile
Resources
The supporting bench: terminology, equipment, techniques and the useful details that sit beyond a taxon entry.
03 / Beyond the profile
A little help with the nerdery.
Supporting notes for looking closer, making sense of the terminology and recording what you find.
A–Z
The glossary
Plain-language explanations of botanical terms, with linked definitions throughout the Manual.
In preparation
01
Equipment & methods
Microscopes, preparation, photography and the practical business of getting a useful look.
In preparation
02
Notes from the bench
Cultivation observations, comparisons and the extra details that don’t fit neatly into a profile.
In preparation
Wanted
Mosses Greg needs
Gaps in the collection and specimens Greg is looking to acquire.
View the wanted list →Built around the evidence.
The glossary explains the terms used in taxon entries. Equipment and methods will cover how observations and images are made. Notes from the bench will hold comparisons, cultivation observations and practical extras.
These resources are in preparation. In the meantime, the sample entry shows where microscopy, diagnostic reasoning and references fit within a profile.
Explore the taxon entry →Glossary preview
A closer look at the terms.
Costa
A thickened band of tissue within a moss leaf, often called its nerve or midrib. Record whether it is present, how many there are, and how far it extends along the leaf.
Pinnate
A feather-like branching pattern, with branches along either side of a main stem. It describes the arrangement of branches, rather than identifying a species by itself.
Appressed
Leaves lying closely against the stem rather than spreading outwards. Record whether you are describing the plant wet or dry, since leaf posture can change.
Terminology reference: Flora of Australia — Mosses glossary.
Submissions & requests
Got mosses to submit? Got something you want identified? Got complaints or hate mail? Shoot us a line
mossmanual@niskai-aquatics.com