Looking for particular moss

gerrowadat

Howdy,

I'm looking for some 'fat bog moss', or Sphagnum Papillosum in the kildare area -- http://www.centralcoastbiodiversity.org/fat-bog-moss-bull-sphagnum-papillosum.html -- It's for a plant study for my partner's college degree.

We've found a place that claims to have some in Wicklow, but being in the middle of kildare, I figured local bogs would have loads - anyone know somewhere that'd have it without having to trespass or other messing about?

Desmo

There are about 30 or so Sphagnum species in Ireland and S. papillosum is one of the fairly common ones on raised and blanket bogs. There are some bits of blanket bog in Kildare but they might be protected sites so you are not really supposed to remove any. This site gives some clues to finding it based on colour http://www.bbsfieldguide.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdfs/mosses/Sphagnum_papillosum.pdf but from what I remember from a long time ago, they are hard to identify purely on field characteristics unless you are well used to them. I remember having to dissect bits out and using a microscope. To be honest, the blanket bogs up in the Wicklow mountains might be easier.