Lunularia are named for their cresent shaped gemma cups.

Common Name
Crescent-cup Liverwort

Habitat
Lunularia cruciata is native to Europe but was introduced to the US, where it is considered a common greenhouse weed. It grows in shaded, moist areas and usually grows on substrata of rock and soil. It requires a moist environment.

Gametophyte
The gametophyte of Lunularia cruciata is a light green, complex thallus liverwort. It dichotomously brances, has small air pores, and had distinctive crescent-shaped gemma cups with small, green gemmae. Archegoniaphores are stalked and have a cross shape.

Sporophyte
Sporophytes grow from the cross shaped archegoniaphores and produce a small, black spore capsule. Exploded capsules have a fuzzy appearance.

Interesting Facts
Flavanoids isolated from Lunularia cruciata are being investigated from their effects on white blood cells. It is also being investigated for absorption of cadmium for phytoremediation.

Literature Cited
Lelpo M, Basile A, Miranda R, Moscatiello V, Nappo C, Sorbo S, et al. 2000. Immunopharmacological properties of flavonoids. Fitoterapia. 71:S101-S109.
Basile A, Alba di Nuzzo R, Capasso C, Sorbo S, Capasso A, Carginale V. 2005. Effect of cadmium on gene expression in the liverwort Lunularia cruciata. Gene. 356:153-159.

Written by Jonathan McKenzie 2008