Many interesting finds were made during the recent John Child Bryophyte Workshop, including the moss Hylocomium splendens (the “Stair-step Moss”).
Landcare Research’s Allan Fife, a moss expert who identified this species, writes:
“This species is found through much of the temperate northern hemisphere, but it is known from the temperate southern hemisphere only from a few high-elevation localities in the North Island. It is a remarkable example of a bipolar disjunct moss species.”
“In the Department of Conservation’s Threat Classification List, H. splendens is considered to be “sparse” in occurrence, with a qualifying term “data poor.” Several workshop participants found it near Sunrise Hut in the Ruahine Ranges. Although previously recorded from high-elevation sites at Mt. Hikurangi, Mt Hector & Field Pk in Tararuas, and from the Ruahines, none of the workshop participants had seen before this characteristic but poorly-documented species.”
“The workshop collections are significant because they were made from a range of elevations and habitats, clarifying the morphological variation, distribution, altitudinal range and habitat preferences of Hylocomium in New Zealand”.