''Lophocolea heterophylla'', the variable-leaved crestwort,
[ is a ]liverwort
The Marchantiophyta () are a division of non-vascular land plants commonly referred to as hepatics or liverworts. Like mosses and hornworts, they have a gametophyte-dominant life cycle, in which cells of the plant carry only a single set of g ...
species belonging to the order Jungermanniales
Jungermanniales is the largest order of liverworts. They are distinctive among the liverworts for having thin leaf-like flaps on either side of the stem. Most other liverworts are thalloid, with no leaves. Due to their dorsiventral organization a ...
, which is the largest liverwort order.
Description
The variable-leaved crestwort has pale green translucent
In the field of optics, transparency (also called pellucidity or diaphaneity) is the physical property of allowing light to pass through the material without appreciable scattering of light. On a macroscopic scale (one in which the dimensions a ...
leaves, which are bilobed at the bottom of the stem but become notched or completely smooth (no notches and not bilobed) further up the stem. Shoots can be up to 3mm wide with the leaves being no more than 1.5mm in width and length. The plant has a strong scent.
Reproductive organs
In the British Isles, it is often encountered in a fertile state. Structures for asexual reproduction ( gemmae) are also sometimes present on the edges of the leaves and bracts.
British distribution
The variable-leaved crestwort is most frequent in the south of Britain
Britain most often refers to:
* The United Kingdom, a sovereign state in Europe comprising the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many smaller islands
* Great Britain, the largest island in the United King ...
, especially England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
, although it can be found as far north as Inverness
Inverness (; from the gd, Inbhir Nis , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness"; sco, Innerness) is a city in the Scottish Highlands. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highlands. Histori ...
. It can also be found on the Isle of Man
)
, anthem = "O Land of Our Birth"
, image = Isle of Man by Sentinel-2.jpg
, image_map = Europe-Isle_of_Man.svg
, mapsize =
, map_alt = Location of the Isle of Man in Europe
, map_caption = Location of the Isle of Man (green)
in Europe ...
and in some parts of the Republic of Ireland
Ireland ( ga, Éire ), also known as the Republic of Ireland (), is a country in north-western Europe consisting of 26 of the 32 counties of the island of Ireland. The capital and largest city is Dublin, on the eastern side of the island. A ...
.
Habitat
Mostly on the base of trees, but also fallen wood, soil, leaf litter and on roots. It can be found in most types of woodland, but ancient woodland is a key habitat in the west and north.[
]
Similar species in Britain
While the leaves of ''L. heterophylla'' are distinctly bilobed at the base of the stem, all leaves of ''Lophocolea bidentata
''Lophocolea bidentata'' is a species of liverwort belonging to the family Lophocoleaceae.
A study in tropical Ecuador found that ''Lophocolea bidentata'' was typically not found in urban environments despite being found in a nearby pristine loc ...
'' are bilobed, and the leaves of '' Lophocolea semiteres'' are not bilobed. '' Lophocolea fragrans'' has leaves which appear more toothed than lobed.[
]
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15344112
Jungermanniales