The river and its surrounding habitat never fail to surprise us at the Trust. It is unbelievable the amount of species biodiversity that the river is supporting in the heart of a capital city. We already know about Otters and Kingfishers but what’s happening on a micro level along the river? The Dell’s area of the Water of Leith river is classified as a “local biodiversity site” and it is definitely living up to its name, as a yet to be “described” species of Fungus has been discovered growing on moss in the Dell’s.
A couple of months ago David Adamson found this Bryoscyphus Fungus growing on an Orthotrichum moss, probably O affine, in the Dells. The moss is a very common species often found growing on the bark of tree’s. David had recently read an article in the last issue of “Field Bryology” about fungus that grows on mosses by George Greiff and decided to contact him about the fungus he had found. George, who lives in the south of England, was able to identify the genus to which the micro-fungus belonged but stressed that at the moment this micro-fungi, including this one, lack species names. George was able to tell us that currently, someone is trying to organise and identify within this genus. Hopefully, when this is done, we will be able to tell you what this fungus is called.
We are exceedingly lucky to have unknown species, yet to be named, thriving in a city’s wild space. It gives an air of mystery to our local walks and reminds us that we can never know it all!
