Common Name: Great Scented Liverwort, or Snake Liverwort

Habitat: Common and widespread in large flat patches on damp shaded rocks and walls.

Gametophyte: Large complex thalli liverwort therefore it contains oil bodies and air pores. Color is fresh green, occasionally yellowish. Thallus is up to 15cm long 2cm wide. Upper surface is covered in conspicuous pores, underside greenish with long rhizoids. Gemme cups found sparingly over the body.

Sporophyte: Archegonia are borne on long stalks up to 10cm tall. The archegonial head resembles a palm tree. The eggs are found under this structure, which after fertilization give rise to the sporophyte, which is full of elaters and spores. The antheridia are embedded in green to dark purple pads, becoming apparently lateral on the main thallus, not stalked.

Distribution: Widespread over the Northern Hemisphere

Interesting Facts: Gives off a distinct odor when crushed. Sometimes distributed by turtles and other small animals. In China this liverwort is crushed and used to treat cuts, burns, bites, boils, and eczema.

Citations:
Conard, Henry S. How to Know the Mosses and Liverworts. 2nd ed. Dubuque: Wm. C. Brown Company, 1982. 283.
Jahns, Hans M. Ferns, Mosses & Lichens of Britain. 1st ed. Manchester: HarperCollinsPublishers, 1983. 158.
Glime, Janice M. The Elfin World of Mosses and Liverworts. Houghton, Michigan: Isle Royale Natural History Association, 1993. 57-58.
Bumpus, Joe. Digital image. [Photography Major]. 20 May 2008.

Written by Jason Bonham 2008