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Liverworts

LIVERWORTS

Liverworts are small flowerless plants with leaf-like lobes called a thallus that looks similar to a lobed liver, hence their common name.

BIFID CRESTWORT

Lophocolea bidentata

Tiny liverwort Lophocolea bidentata growing on a rotting log along Cavill's walk.

L. bidentata has bidentate leaves to the tip of the branch.

A small sample of Lophocolea bidentata on a piece of wood measuring 2cm. Each of the leaves along the stem have two teeth, hence "bidentata".

VARIABLE-LEAVED CRESTWORT

Lophocolea heterophylla

A fallen hornbeam trunk without bark is showing green patches of a leafy liverwort which on examination shows two rows of tiny leaves.

The leaves are entire at the tip of stem with lower leaves bidentate or two toothed.

L. heterophylla has bidentate leaves which change to more rounded leaves towards the tip of the branch.

Close up showing several capsules containing spores and others that have released their spores.

SOUTHERN CRESTWORT

Lophocolea semiteres

An alien liverwort from the southern hemisphere, Lophocolea semiteres first recorded in Hainault Forest 4th April 2004. Growing on rotting hornbeam.

Lophocolea semiteres has overlapping, rounded leaves. It is larger than L.bidentata and L.heterophylla. Also found in Epping Forest.

FORKED VEILWORT

Metzgeria furcata

A small patch of this Liverwort on a gnarled ash tree alongside Sheepwater.

The patch measured 4.5cm across. Forked veilwort is a common lowland species found especially in association with Ash trees.

Forked Veilwort has thin strips of tissue known as thalli. Each thallus (singular) is approx 1mm in width and is divided into two (bifurcate). It has a thickened midrib.

Forked veilwort on Ash tree at Sheepwater.

This is the most common Liverwort in Hainault Forest this year. The yellowish-green patches contrast with other green colours on trunks.

Metzgeria furcata on hawthorn. The lobe ends divide into two which shows quite well in top right of this picture.

CRESCENT-CUP LIVERWORT

Lunularia cruciata

Crescent-cup Liverwort on the bank of Hainault Lake inflow from the Common.

This species is found on banks and rides in woodland and is often present as a weed of greenhouses and flower pots.

The name 'Crescent-cup' refers to its Moon-shaped cups which contain disc-like gemmae that get washed out of the cups and grow into new plants.

This light green liverwort grows at the water's edge in Olgit's DItch. A half moon structure (gemmae cup) in some lobe centres contain gemmae that detach from the parent plant and develop into new individuals.

EVEN SCALEWORT

Radula complanata

On hawthorn scrub near Hainault Lake. With thanks to Dr. Kenneth Adams, Recorder of Botany and Bryophytes, Essex Field Club, for the identification. Although widespread in UK it is the first time Brian Ecott had seen it in Hainault Forest.

TQ4792 04/12/2016

TQ4792 04/12/2016

TQ4792 05/03/2017

Tiny yellow-green gemmae lining the frond edges which break off to form new plants.

DILATED SCALEWORT

Frullania dilatata

A patch of Liverwort measuring approximately 5cm across growing on an Ash tree trunk at the old Reservoir site on Hog Hill. With thanks to Dr. Kenneth Adams, Recorder of Flowering Plants and Bryophytes, Essex Field Club for his help in the procedures necessary to determine the identity.

Close up of upper part of liverwort.

Close up of underside, lateral leaves rounded.

This normally well-pigmented Liverwort can be recognised easily from afar when it forms dark purple round patches on tree bark.Young growth may be green.

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