When young, I taught myself to draw and paint flowers, which helped me to learn their names when I became a student at Bedford College in London. Previously, on a woodland floor, I had found several mosses, beautiful, thrilling – and later I was set the task of naming a collection from the Lake District. Fieldwork included a course near Aviemore, Scotland. I had found my métier and went on to gain an MSc. As an herbarium assistant at Southampton, my studies helped towards the first vice-county bryophyte flora to be mapped by hectads.
My husband Valentine ‘Pat’ Paton and I moved to Cornwall, where over 10 years I wrote two books. As the British Bryological Society’s Recorder for Hepatics I attended field meetings, worked with colleagues on the Census Catalogue and contributed to the BBS Mapping Scheme. Next, I was persuaded by Jack Gardiner to work on a book on the liverworts of the British Isles, which became The Liverwort Flora of the British Isles. I was awarded a four-year grant-in-aid by the Royal Society in 1967 towards this work. It was the greatest pleasure to carry out fieldwork for this project. I visited many places in the British Isles, the Republic and Northern Ireland, the Hebrides, Scotland, the Isle of Man, Wales, England, the Isles of Scilly and the Channel Islands. During this time, I also worked on and published three regional bryophyte floras. When the Cambridge University Press abruptly ended our contract for the book, I carried on. The Liverwort Flora of the British Isles was published in 1999. Pat inked my drawings with the sure hand of an architect, David Holyoak brought my text into the digital era and publisher Basil Harley gave the work infinite care and attention. 34 years after starting on this journey, reviews were still enthusiastic. In 2000, I received an award from the Linnean Society for the illustrations and, in 2002, the International Association of Bryologists (IAB) Hattori Prize for best bryological publication in the years 1999-2000.
After that, the intensity of fieldwork lessened as trekking and mountaineering became more of a challenge. I was to engage with one more project and my Supplement to the Liverwort Flora of the British Isles was published in 2022. Matthew Stribley had transcribed my handwriting and helped in many ways. I have lived long and have been lucky in other respects: I have made kind friends and colleagues, was appointed MBE and have been able to take so many opportunities to share this compelling passion. The following list outlines my nationwide pursuit of the liverworts.
Publications
Paton, J.A. 1954. A bryophyte flora of the sandstone rocks of Kent and Sussex. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 2: 349-374.
Paton, J.A. & Goodman P.J. 1955. The conditions promoting anthocyanin-formation in Sphagnum nemorum Scop. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 2: 561-567.
Paton, J.A. 1956. Bryophyte succession on the Wealden sandstone rocks. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 3: 103-114.
Paton, J.A. 1957. The occurrence, structure and functions of the stomata in British bryophytes. I. Occurrence and structure. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 3: 228-242.
Paton, J.A. & Pearce, J.V. 1957. II. Functions and physiology. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 3: 242-259.
Crombie, W.M. & Paton, J.A. 1958. An age effect on seta elongation in Pellia epiphylla. Nature, London 182 No. 4634: 541.
Paton, J.A. 1961. A bryophyte flora of South Hants. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 4: 1-83.
Paton, J.A. 1961. Southbya tophacea Spruce. New to the British Isles. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 4: 98-101.
Paton, J.A. 1962. The genus Calypogeia Raddi in Britain. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 4: 221-229.
Whitehouse, H.L.K. & Paton, J.A. 1963. The distribution of Tortula stanfordensis Steere in Cornwall. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 4: 462-463.
Paton, J.A. 1964. Mosses and liverworts. In Chapter 8 Botany, in Monkhouse, F.J., Ed. A Survey of Southampton and its Region. 111-113. British Association for the Advancement of Science. Southampton.
Paton, J.A. 1965. Lophocolea semiteres (Lehm.) Mitt. And Telaranea murphyae sp. nov. established on Tresco. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 4: 775-779.
Paton, J.A. 1965. A new British moss, Fissidens celticus sp. nov. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 4: 780-784.
Paton, J.A. & Warburg, E.F. 1965. A new combination for a British hepatic. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 4: 831-832.
Paton, J.A. 1965. Census Catalogue of British hepatics. 4th ed., 50 pp. British Bryological Society.
Paton, J.A. 1966. Scapania degenii Schiffn. ex K. Müll. In the Braemar district of Scotland. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 5: 83-85.
Paton, J.A. 1966. Scapania mucronata Buch in Scotland. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 5: 145-146.
Paton, J.A. 1966. Tortula stanfordensis Steere in Yorkshire. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 5: 147-148.
Paton, J.A. 1966. Solenostoma caespiticium (Lindenb.) Steph. And Fossombronia incurva Lindb. new to Wales. Nature in Wales 10: 9-10.
Paton, J.A. 1967. Riccia crystallina L. and Riccia cavernosa Hoffm. In Britain. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 5: 222-225.
Paton, J.A. & Newton, M.E. 1967. A cytological study of Pellia epiphylla (L.) Corda in Britain with reference to the status of Pellia borealis Lorbeer. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 5: 226-231.
Paton, J.A. 1967. Leptoscyphus cuneifolius (Hook.) Mitt. with perianths in Ireland. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 5: 232-236.
Paton, J.A. 1968. Solenostoma oblongifolium (K. Müll.) K. Müll. In Scotland – new to the British Isles. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 5: 435-438.
Paton, J.A. & Birks, H.J.B. 1968. Lophozia perssonii Buch & S. Arnell – new to Britain. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 5: 439-442.
Paton, J.A. 1968. Eriopus apiculatus (Hook. f. & Wils.) Mitt. established on Tresco. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 5: 460-462.
Paton, J.A. 1968. Mosses and liverworts of the Lizard peninsula. The Lizard 3: 22-25.
Paton, J.A. 1969. A bryophyte flora of Cornwall. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 5: 669-756.
Paton, J.A. & Corley, M.F.V. 1969. Haplomitrium hookeri (Sm.) Nees in alpine habitats in Scotland. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 5: 827-828.
Paton, J.A. 1969. Four hepatics new to Ireland. Irish Naturalist’s Journal 6: 171-173.
Paton, J.A., 1969. Hepatic flora of Guernsey. Report and Transactions of La Société Guernésiaise 18: 375-382.
Paton, J.A., 1969. Mosses and liverworts in Cornwall. Cornwall Naturalists Trust Bulletin 9: 3-5.
Paton, J.A. & Duckett, J.G. 1970 Scapania calcicola (Arn. & Pers.) Ingham in Scotland. Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society 63: 177-187.
Paton, J.A. 1970. Solenostoma levieri (Steph.) Steph. New to Britain. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 6: 50-55.
Paton, J.A. 1971. Telaranea murphyae Paton with female inflorescences. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 6: 228-229.
Paton, J.A. 1971. Southbya tophacea Spruce in Anglesey. Transactions of the British Bryological Society 6: 328-330.
Paton, J.A. 1971. Three hepatics new to Ireland on Bulbin mountain, Co. Donegal. Irish Naturalists’ Journal 17: 97-99.
Paton, J.A. 1971. A bryophyte flora of the Isle of Man. Proceedings of the Isle of Man Natural History and Antiquarian Society 17 (3) supplement: 1-68.
du Feu, E.H. & Paton, J.A. 1972. A supplement to the bryophyte flora of Guernsey, C.I. La Société Jersiaise, St Helier, Jersey: 1-19.
Paton, J.A. 1973. Taxonomic studies in the genus Fossombronia Raddi. Journal of Bryology 7: 243-252.
Paton, J.A. 1973. Riccia fluitans L. with sporophytes. Journal of Bryology 7: 253-259.
Paton, J.A. 1973. Phaeoceros laevis (L.) Prosk. subsp. carolinianus (Michaux) Prosk. In Britain. Journal of Bryology 7: 541-543.
Paton, J.A. 1973. Hepatic flora of the Shetland Islands. Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh 42: 17-29.
Paton, J.A. 1974. Fossombronia fimbriata sp. nov. Journal of Bryology 8: 1-4.
Paton, J.A. 1974. Lophocolea bispinosa (Hook. f. & Tayl.) Gottsche, Lindenb. & Nees established in the Isles of Scilly. Journal of Bryology 8: 191-196.
Paton, J.A. 1974. The genus Fossombronia in Jersey including a new variety. Annual Bulletin of the Société Jersiaise 21: 269-271.
Paton, J.A. 1975. Scapania crassiretis Brynne erroneously recorded in Great Britain. Journal of Bryology 8: 493.
Paton, J.A. & Hill, M.O. 1975. Supplement to the hepatic flora of the Shetland Islands. Transactions of the Botanical Society of Edinburgh 42: 265-273.
Paton, J.A. 1975. Hepatics on Lundy. Lundy Field Society 26th Annual Report: 18.
Paton, J.A. 1975. Fossombronia pusilla var. maritima Paton in Guernsey. Report and Transactions of La Société Guernésiaise 19: 490-491.
Paton, J.A. 1975. Report of the NCC on some aspects of the ecology of Shetland. III The terrestrial survey of Shetland. 4 The bryophytes of Shetland: 1-61, i-iii, 31 pages of maps. Species lists reproduced in Berry & Johnstone, 1980. The natural history of Shetland. Collins New Naturalist, pp. 272-275.
Paton, J.A. 1976. Pleurocladula albescens (Hook.) Spruce with gemmae. Journal of Bryology 9: 1-5.
Paton, J.A. 1976. Ditrichum cornubicum, a new moss from Cornwall. Journal of Bryology 9: 171-175.
Paton, J.A. 1977. Metzgeria temperata Kuwah. in the British Isles and M. fruticulosa (Dicks) Evans with sporophytes. Journal of Bryology 9: 441-449.
Paton, J.A. 1977. Plagiochila killarniensis Pears. in the British Isles. Journal of Bryology 9: 451-459.
Paton, J.A. 1979. Plagiochila britannica, a new species in the British Isles. Journal of Bryology 10: 245-256.
Paton, J.A. 1979. Anthoceros agrestis, a new name for A. punctatus var. cavernosus sensuProsk. 1958, non (Nees) Gottsche et al. Journal of Bryology 10: 257-261.
Paton, J.A. 1980. Observations on Riccia bifurca Hoffm. and other species of Riccia L. in the British Isles. Journal of Bryology 11: 1-6.
Paton, J.A. 1981. Scapania lingulata Buch in the British Isles. Journal of Bryology 11: 399-403.
Paton, J.A. 1981. Scapania paludicola Loeske & K. Müll. discovered in the British Isles. Journal of Bryology 11: 405-407.
Paton, J.A. 1981. Scapania praetervisa Meyl., not S. mucronata Buch in Britain. Journal of Bryology 11: 409-410.
Schumaker, R., Paton, J.A. & De Zuttere, P. 1982. Sphenolobus hellerianus (Nees ex Lindenb.) Steph. Dumortiera 23: 1-8.
Paton, J.A. 1984. Cephaloziella nicholsoni Douin & Schiffn. distiguished from C. massalongi (Spruce) K. Müll. Journal of Bryology 13: 1-8.
Paton, J.A. 1986. Bulbils on Kurzia trichoclados (K. Müll.) Grolle in Great Britain and Ireland. Journal of Bryology 14: 181-182.
Paton, J.A. 1987. Bulbils on Telaranea nematodes (Gott. ex Aust.) Howe in Ireland. Journal of Bryology 14: 792-793.
Paton, J.A. 1990. Marsupella profunda Lindb. in Cornwall new to the British Isles. Journal of Bryology 16: 1-4.
Paton, J.A. 1990. Riccia subbifurca Warnst. ex Crozals in the British Isles. Journal of Bryology 16: 5-8.
Paton, J.A. 1990. Oil-bodies in Plagiochila (Dum.) Dum. Journal of Bryology 16: 118-120.
Long, D.G., Paton, J.A. and Rothero, G.P. 1990. Marsupella arctica (Berrgr.) Bryhn & Kaal. in Scotland, new to the British Isles. Journal of Bryology 16: 163-171.
Paton, J.A. 1992. Frullania microphylla var. deciduifolia Grolle in North Wales. Journal of Bryology 16: 163-164.
Paton, J.A. Telaranea longii sp. nov. in Britain, and a comparison with T. murphyae Paton. 1992. Journal of Bryology 17: 289-295.
Paton, J.A. 1993. Tubers on Conocephalum conicum (L.) Lindb. thalli. Journal of Bryology 17: 503-505.
Paton, J.A. 1994. Fossombronia pusilla (L.) Nees var. maritima Paton elevated to the rank of species. Journal of Bryology 18: 366-368.
Paton, J.A. & Perry, A.R. 1995. Leiocolea fitzgeraldiae sp. nov. in Britain and Ireland. Journal of Bryology 18: 469-478.
Paton, J.A. 1996. A new combination of a variety Leiocolea rutheana. Journal of Bryology 19: 823.
Paton, J.A. 1999. The Liverwort Flora of the British Isles. 626 pp. Harley Books. Colchester.
Julian, C.G., Bowers, P.W. & Paton, J.A. 2000. Frullania dermatitis. Contact Dermatitis 43: 120.
Long, D.G., Rothero, G.P. & Paton, J.A. 2003. Athalamia hyalina (Sommerf.) S. Hatt in Scotland, new to the British Isles. Journal of Bryology 25: 253-257.
Paton, J.A. & Holyoak, D.T. 2005. The bryophyte flora of the Isles of Scilly. 25 pp. Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ERCCIS No. 2.
Long, D.G., Paton, J.A., Squirrel, J., Woodhead, M. & Hollingsworth, P.M. 2006. Morphological, ecological and genetic evidence for distinguishing Anastrophyllum joergensenii Schiffn. and A. alpinum Steph. (Jungermanniopsida: Lophoziaceae). Journal of Bryology 28: 108-117. ERRATUM Journal of Bryology 28: 280.
Paton, J.A. & Sheahan, M.C. 2006. Lophocolea brookwoodiana (Jungermanniales: Lophoziaceae). Journal of Bryology 28: 163-166.
Hentschel, J., Paton, J.A., Schneider, H. & Heinrichs, J. 2007. Acceptance of Liochlaena Nees and Solenostoma Mitt., the systematic position of Eremonotus Pearson and notes on Jungermannia L. s.l. (Jungermanniidae) based on chloroplast DNA sequence data. Plant Systematics and Evolution 268: 147-157.
Paton, J.A. 2022. Supplement to the Liverwort Flora of the British Isles. 62 pp. Jean A. Paton. Probus.
Non-bryophyte publications
Paton, J.A. 1968. Wild Flowers in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. Bradford Barton: Truro.
Paton, J.A. 1970. Flowers of the Cornish Coast. Bradford Barton: Truro.
Paton, J.A. & Paton, V.S. 2001. Magnolias in Cornish Gardens