Mosses & Liverworts
in Dunsany
Ireland hosts over 450 moss species and 200+ liverwort species, thriving in our moist
woodlands and shaded landscapes.
Mosses & Liverworts
Dunsany Estate is just beginning an ecological assessment of its bryophyte and lichen communities. We’ve invited universities and their ecological, botanical, and postgraduate students to help uncover what’s here. There is so much more to come.
Mosses in Dunsany Estate
Mosses of Irish Woodlands
Mosses are bryophytes, non-vascular plants that absorb water and nutrients directly through their leaves and reproduce via spores. In Irish woodlands, they regulate microclimate by retaining moisture, reduce soil erosion, facilitate nutrient cycling, and contribute to pedogenesis, creating conditions that support fungi, seedlings, and diverse invertebrate communities.
Explore the Mosses in Dunsany Estate
- Fern-like mats with excellent moisture retention
- Used in folk herbalism for wound healing and inflammation relief
- Upright, swan-necked clusters on acidic woodland substrates
- Tiny, curved-leaf tufts (~3 cm) typical of shaded forest floors
Large mats up to 15 cm with heart-shaped leaves; traditionally used as insulation and
wound dressing
Spongy mats with bent-back leaves, common on disturbed woodland edges
Liverworts in Dunsany Estate
Liverworts of Irish Woodlands
Liverworts are bryophytes – non-vascular plants with either thalloid (flattened) or leafy forms that reproduce via spores. In Irish woodlands, they thrive in moist, shaded habitats, aiding in water retention, stabilising soil surfaces, and contributing to nutrient cycling, while providing microhabitats for fungi and invertebrates.
Explore the Liverworts in Dunsany Estate
- Umbrella-like thalli (~10 cm); historically used for liver ailments and antifungal
treatments
- Broad thalli (~1 cm wide) on riverbanks and wet woodland soils
Delicate mats near streams; sensitive to disturbance
- Mop-head form with exceptional water retention; found at wet woodland edges
- Tall peat moss (up to 25 cm) common in boggy woodland areas
