Liverwort Specimen

Date2007

Object numberHF.2012.49.43

DescriptionA small, oval shaped sample of Plagiochila porelloides [Torrey Ex Nees] Lindenb. liverwort. Stems and branches are tightly interwoven. Stems are a dark brown colour with green-brown branches. Small, rounded leaves are present on the branches. The reverse is similar in colour with evidence of additional plant matter (conifer needles) woven among the stems.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum:
Class: Jungermanniopsida
Order: Jungermanniales
Family: Plagiochilaceae
Genus:
Species: Plagiochila porelloides

Narrative

Collected on October 23, 2007, by Rosemary Curley from the Devils Punchbowl, North Granville, Queens County, PEI (46°24'21.05"N, 63°29'8.18"W. Datum: NAD83). Collected from the bank of a steeply sloped depression with stream banks coated with mosses.

Plagiochila porelloides is a green to dark green liverwort resembling ferns that grows in mats. Leaves are rounded and 2.5mm wide with jagged edges and slightly recurve from the longitudinal groove at the base. Stems are a distinct red colour. Thin branches bind the shoots together as they grown. Plagiochila porelloides has dioicous reproduction. It prefers to grow in sheltered locations such as woodlands, streamside and stone walls. It prefers rich substrates and will sometimes grow amongst other bryophytes.

Geographically Plagiochila porelloides is found circumpolar in boreo-temperate environments including Europe, North America, North Africa, northern Asia, Greenland, Mexico and the Arctic.

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