Liverworts

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LEAFY LIVERWORTS

Bazzania trilobata

This species grows in large dark-green, olive green clumps and sometimes among other bryophytes. It is rather robust and quite noticeable. The leaves end in three large triangular teeth.

Shoots of B. trilobata, notice how the leaves hang around the shoot giving it the appearance of a millipede. At close examination the leaf tips are visible in the photos.

Common moist woodland species found growing on a variety of substrates including humus, rocks, soil, logs, and tree bases.

Frullania spp.

This genus can be recognized by the reddish, sometimes green web-like patches mostly on tree bark. On close examination the leaves are complicate bi-lobed, often with helmet shaped lobules.

Patches of Frullania spp., notice the branching pattern and colors.

Commonly found on tree trunks.

Scapania spp.

This genus is medium to large in size and often becomes reddish in the sun. It is easily distinguished as one of the few genera with a complicate bi-lobed leaf which has a dorsal lobe that is smaller than the ventral lobe.

Shoots of Scapania nemorea.

Common genera grows on a variety of substrates often with other bryophytes in wet area, often where it is kept constantly wet.

Nowellia curvifolia

This liverwort can often be identified by a distance due to its substrate affinity and red-bronze color if exposed to sunlight, or velvety green color in the shade. The leaves under high magnification are saccate and bi-lobed.

Shoots of Nowellia showing the braided or beaded look (Left), shoots with sporophytes (two Right).

This species is almost always found growing on logs that have lost their bark (decorticated) in moist woodlands.

Plagiochila spp.

The leaves are often quite large and distinctly succubous with large decurrencies. The leaves can be highly variable in this genus though they are generally not lobed though they can be variously toothed. It can grow as individual shoots among other moss species, but is more often in large single species patches.

A few stems of Plagiochila.

Common on rocks and bark, often in moist sites or very wet sites.

Porella spp.

The leaves are imbricate and the shoots often grow out from the often vertical substrate. On close examination the leaves are complicate bi-lobed. The size and shape of lobules are taxonomically important.

Shoots of Porella platyphylla growing on a log.

This genus is often found growing on rocks, logs, and trees. The amount of moisture and the substrate are important to know when identifying species.

Ptilidium spp.

The most distinguishing characteristic of this genus is the ciliate leaves. Often with a golden-reddish coloration.

Two species of Ptilidium both demonstrating the distinctly ciliate leaves.

This genus is found on rock and on logs, fairly moist conditions.

Radula spp.

This genus tends to be found in mesic regions. It grows as flattened grayish green mats. It has a characteristically flattened, scraper shaped perianth and it lacks underleaves.

Two patches of Radula complanata. Notice the flat mouthed perianth which is distinctive for this genus.

This genus can be found growing on rocks and on tree bark.

THALLOID LIVERWORTS

Metzgeria spp.

This genus is a small liverwort with a simple thallus. It has a distinct midrib which can often be seen without magnification. The thallus is only a single cell thick.

A patch of Metzgeria growing on the bark of a tree with moss shoots protruding through it.

This genus is found growing on moist rocks and trees often growing with other bryophytes.

Conacephalum conicum

This species is a common thalloid liverwort, that has a complex thallus. It is large with a distinctive “snake skin” appearance with large pores, and rarely found with reproductive structures.

Shoots of Conacephalum.

This species is often found growing on wet rock or sometimes on wet soil over rocks.

Reboulia hemisphaerica

This species also has a complex thallus. It has recognizable purple ventral scales. It is half the size or smaller than C. conicum. It is dioicous, but often found with hemispherical reproductive structures on their stalks.

A patch of Reboulia with its large hemispherical reproductive heads.

Found growing on wet to moist rocks, sometimes on soil over rocks.

Pellia epiphylla

This species has a simple thallus. It is smooth and often greasy looking. It is monoicous with the antheridia hidden under an involucre toward the tip and lines of little bumps containing the antheridia behind.

This species is found growing on wet/moist soil often along streams.

Marchantia polymorpha

This species is often recognized by the presence of gemmae cups, though they are not always present. It has a complex thallus which is a dull green to a brownish green.

This is a weedy species found on a variety of soil types and over rocks often in moist sites.

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All photos were taken by Keith C. Bowman

Last Updated March 16, 2007.