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Throop, England, United Kingdom
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South Holland, Netherlands
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Conocephalum salebrosum Szweyk., Buczk. & Odrzyk.Order: MarchantialesEN: Snakewort, Snake-skin Liverwort, DE: Mattes KegelkopfmoosSlo.: kajekoi veliki jetrenjakDat.: April 9. 2019Lat.: 46.35866 Long.: 13.70495Code: Bot_1178/2019_DSC05589, Bot_1180/2019_DSC465 Picture file names: from Conocephalum-salebrosum_raw_10 to Conocephalum-salebrosum_raw_21.Habitat: Moderately incline mountain slope, southeast aspect; river bank, a few m above water level, mixed wood and bushes; humid, cold and shady place; calcareous, rocky ground, partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 6-8 deg C, elevations 530 m (1.740 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: Rocks and soil covered by mosses.Place: Lower Trenta valley, between villages Soa and Trenta, in the Matev's gorge, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC. Comment: Present day liverworts are the closest living relatives of the first land plants, which emerged about 500 million year ago. Conocephalum salebrosum is a species described no earlier than in 2005 (Ref. 6). It is a widespread liverwort. Pictures show male gametophyte (Conocephalum salebrosum is a dioecious species, that means, male and female plants are different). It is very similar to more common Conocephalum conicum and hence not easy to be separated from it in the field (Ref. 4 and 5). The main three diagnostic morphologic traits are the size of the thallus (C. salebrosum is smaller), shiny surface of the thallus of C. conicum, and more conspicuous borders between surface cells of the upper side of the thallus of C. salebrosum.On my pictures one can also see also several antheridial pads (Fig. 15) as well as two brown 'buds' sheathed by scales at the apices of the thalli (overwintering stage, which develops new thalli) (Fig. 13, at the lower edge of the uppermost light green thallus lobe). Also pegged rhizoids (a primitive root-like structures) (Fig.20) which are dead at maturity and function as an effective external waterconducting system are shown. A second type of rhizoids also exist with Conocephalum salebrosum, which are smooth and serve for nutrition and anchorage purposes. These dimorphic rhizoids are characteristic of the archaic, but nevertheless highly developed, complex thalloid liverworts (Ref.7).Yet, I do not know what are the black pits in the thalli (Fig.13, 18) with black, beaked, pear-like structure in the middle. Even in the case that the pictures show a mix of male and female gametophytes, these structures don't look like stalked archegoniophores (the cone-shaped receptacles that bear sporangia) of the female plants. Is this a parasitizing fungus? Ref.:(1) Personal communication with Guido Brusa via iNaturalist.(2) Ian Atherton, Ed., Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland - a field guide, British Bryological Society (2010), p255. (3)
blogs.ubc.ca/biology321/?page_id=3358 (accessed February 6. 2021)(4)
websites.rbge.org.uk/bbs/Recording/conocephalum/conoimage... (accessed February 6. 2021)(5)
websites.rbge.org.uk/bbs/Recording/conocephalum/conosurve... (accessed February 6. 2021)(6) J. Szweykowski, K. Buczkowska, I.J. Odrzykoski, Conocephalum salebrosum (Marchantiopsida, Conocephalaceae) - A new Holarctic liverwort species, 2005, Plant Systematics and Evolution 253(1):133-158
www.researchgate.net/publication/226397121_Conocephalum_s... (7) J. G. Duckett, R. Ligrone, K. S. Renzaglia, S. Pressel, (2013) Pegged and smooth rhizoids in complex thalloid liverworts (Marchantiopsida): structure, function and evolution, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 174, 6892.,
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/boj.12121 (accessed February 6. 2021)Camera: Nikon D700 / Nikkor Micro 105mm/f2.8 and Sony ILCE6000 / Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar E 16-70 mm/f4
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Christmas, Florida, United States
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Pellia epiphylla (L.) Corda, syn.: Blasia epiphylla (L.) Fr., Marsilia epiphylla (L.) Lindb.EN: Common Liverwort, Common Pellia, Overleaf Pellia, DE: Gemeines BeckenmoosSlo.: navadni jetrnjakDat.: Feb. 13. 2008Lat.: 46.12988 Long.: 13.81285Code: Bot_0240/2008_DSC5176 and Bot_0241/2008_DSC5245Habitat: mixed forest; moist, right bank of a narrow mountain ravine; steep mountain slope, southeast aspect; mostly in shade; average precipitations 2.000-2.600 mm/year, average temperature 10-11 deg C, elevations 470 m (1.550 feet), prealpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: rocky, almost vertical surface with a thin layer of clayey soil.Place: Next to the trail from village Slap ob Idrijci to village Ponikve; the ravine of Kostanjevica creek, East Julian Pre-Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC. Comment: Pellia epiphylla is a foliose species of liverworts (Marchantiophyta). These geologically very old creatures also belong to the kingdom of plants (Plantae), but are morphologically and functionally much different. Pellia epiphylla is like a 'double kind' of living being. The first one (gametophyte) reproduces sexually. It has separate male (antheridia) and female (archegonia) sex organs. In this form the species consists of green, foliose thalli of rather poorly defined shapes measuring up to 1 cm across and bearing both sex organs on the upper side of the thalli (not shown on my pictures). In wet weather sperms float around and eventually fertilize ova. The fertilized ova develop into the second form of this plant (sporophyte) in the shape of small, brownish cups (see Fig.5), which remain attached to the sexual green thalli of the gametophyte. This form proliferates on a non-sexual way producing spores like mosses, fungi and ferns. The sporophytes produce long, translucent 'stalks' (setae) with dark, shiny, spherical capsules on top (Fig. 2, 3). When they become mature, they burst and their cuticle peels back into four brownish segments. Light ocher-brown tufts of 'hairs' (elaters) and spores appear. Elaters mechanically change their shape depending on environmental conditions, particularly regarding air humidity, and hence ensure that the spores are dispersed only in favorable conditions. When the spores germinate, new gametophytes are produced and the life circle is closed.Pellia epiphylla is morphologically very similar to Pellia neesiana. The latter one is a dioicous plan (separate plants bearing male only or female only sexual organs) in contrast to Pellia epiphylla, which is a monoicous plant (male and female organs reside on the thallus of the same plant). Hence, thali of sterile plants (still without sexual organs) of both species are generally (without microscopy) indistinguishable (which may apply also to this find). Linn described Pellia epiphylla already in 1757. It is a very common liverwort species living in all colder regions of north hemisphere on permanently moist places. In spite of this most people have never even heard of it. Ref.:(1) Ian Atherton, Ed., Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland - a field guide, British Bryological Society (2010), p 235. (2)
www.gbif.org/species/2689550 (accessed Feb. 23. 2019)(3) V. Wirth, R. Duell, Farbatlas Flechten und Moose, Ulmer, (2000), p 193.
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Throop, England, United Kingdom
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Pellia endiviifoliaEndive PelliaSlo.: ?Dat.: Oct. 02. 2010Lat.: 46.03581 Long.: 14.02119Code: Bot_462/2010_IMG2584Habitat: Almost vertical clay road cut flank, turned east, thick soil layer, calcareous ground, fairly humid but sunny place, fully exposed to direct rain, average precipitations 2.000-2.600 mm/year, average temperature 8-10 deg C, elevation 300 m (980 feet), borderline between prealpine and Dinaric phytogeographical region.Substratum: soil. Place: Near confluence of rivers Idrijca and Ganik, right bank of river Idrijca, close to Spodnja Idrija town, Gorika, Slovenia ECComments: The small yellow-green highly branched branches on much larger basic thallus are characteristic for autumnal form of this liverwort. It was formerly called P. endiviifolia fo. furcigera.Pellia endiviifolia is a dioicous plant. Pictures mainly show female plants.Ref.:(1) Personal communication dr. Andrej Martini. (2) I. Atherton (ed), Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland - a field guide, BBS, (2010), p237.
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Metzgeria furcata (L.) Dumort., syn.: Jungermannia furcata L.. Metzgeria glabra Raddi, Herverus furcatus (L.) Gray, Fasciola furcata (L.) Dumort., Blasia furcata (L.) Fr.. Family: Metzgeriaceae H.Klinggr.EN: Forked Veilwort, DE: Gewhnliches IgelhaubenmoosSlo.: navadna trakavkaDat.: May 8. 2021Lat.: 46.35933 Long.: 13.70547Code: Bot_1366/2021_DSC2654 Habitat: Steep mountain slope, east aspect; bushes and smaller trees; calcareous, colluvial ground, humid place mostly in shade; partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 6-8 deg C, elevations 535 m (1.750 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: on mosses.Place: Lower Trenta valley, right bank of river Soa; between villages Soa and Trenta; next to the trail from main road to abandoned farmhouse Skokar, Trenta 2, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC. Comment: Metzgeria furcata is a common liverwort in Trenta valley and elsewhere. It grows mainly on bark of deciduous trees, preferring Fraxinus excelsior. Sometimes it can be found also on rocks, soil or mosses. This find is growing on mosses (see Fig.7). The liverwort is splitting strictly dichotomously and the angle between braches is fairly constant around 80 to 90 degrees. Scattered, irregular hairs on the edges of the thallus (Fig 5.) are also characteristic for this species. Ref.:(1) Ian Atherton, Ed., Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland - a field guide, British Bryological Society (2010), p 246. (2) V. Wirth, Die Flechten Baden-Wrttembergs, Teil.1. 2., Ulmer (1995), p 175.(3) V. Wirth, R. Duell, Farbatlas Flechten und Moose, Ulmer, (2000), p 191.
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Preissia quadrata (Scop.) Nees syn.: Preissia commutata NeesOrder: Marchantiales Limpr.Family: Marchantiaceae (Bisch.) linflayGenus: Preissia CordaEN: Blister ribbon, Narrow Mushroom-headed Liverwort, DE: Preiss-Lebermoos, Quadratisches PreissmoosSlo.: robata stisnjenkaDat.: May 19. 2010Lat.: 46.31178 Long.: 13.55632Code: Bot_420/2010_DSC2259 Habitat: roadside of forest road escarpment, mixed wood edge; fairly steep mountain slope, north aspect; relatively cool and moist place; mostly in shade; calcareous ground; exposed to direct rain; average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, elevations 510 m (1.670 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: sandy moist soil.Place: Bovec basin, at the foot of Mt. Polovnike ridge, south of village ezsoa, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC Comment: Preissia quadrata is a thallose liverwort widely distributed in north hemisphere. As a member of liverworts it possibly belongs to the most early-evolved group of plants colonizing land environments. It is strictly bound to calcareous ground. Thalli produce male and female sexual organs in a form of up to 2 cm long stalks with flat or lobed discs at their apices. Smaller, male stalks are called antheridiophore and taller female stalks archegoniophore arpocephalum. Sometimes both appear on the same thallus (monoicous plants) or thalli have gametophytes that produce only sperm or eggs but never both (dioicous plants). Sperms are distributed by splashing rain drops but they can also swim the whole way to the female receptacles. This is of cause possible only if both male and female receptacles are surrounded by water (Ref.: 2). So water is essential for sexual propagation of these creatures.Ref.:(1) Ian Atherton, Ed., Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland - a field guide, British Bryological Society (2010), p 257; available at:
rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/bbs/activities/liverworts/Preissia%2... (2)
www.biologydiscussion.com/bryophyta/quick-notes-on-marcha... (accessed Dec. 26.2018)(3)
botanyphoto.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/2015/05/preissia-quadr... (accessed Dec. 26. 2018)
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Bazzania trilobata (L.) Gray, syn.: Mastigobryum trilobatum (L.) Nees, Pleuroschisma trilobatum (L.) Dumort., Jungermannia trilobata L.Family: LepidoziaceaeEN: Greater Whipwort, Threelobed bazzania, DE: Grosses Peitschenlebermoos, Dreilappiges PeitschenmoosSlo.: trokrpi binikDat.: Oct. 26. 2021Lat.: 46.39886 Long.: 13.70239Code: Bot_1415/2021_DSC4855Habitat; mixed forest, Fagus sylvatica and Picea abies dominant trees; almost flat terrain, calcareous, old colluvial deposits; locally probably acid ground (understory vegetation mainly Vaccinium myrtillus L.), in shade, partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 4-5 deg C, elevations 1.000 m (3.280 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: humus layer on roots of a Picea abies stump in its initial stage of disintegration and on soil among the roots.Place: Upper Trenta valley, Zapodn place, right bank of (dry) Soa river bed, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC. Comments (pertains to pictures in the Flicker album Bazzania trilobata): Bazzania trilobata is a relatively common and among the largest and most noticeable leafy liverworts. Its quite large mats can be found on boggy soils, forest ground, rotten logs, and at the bases of trees. It is a widespread species. Most of others in this genus are more typical of tropical environments. Bazzania trilobata can be recognized by a special arrangement of its leaves. As seen in my close-up photos, the upper edges of the leaves overlap the lower edges of the leaves above them. This is so called incubous leaf arrangement. Most of other leafy liverworts have the opposite arrangement, succubous, where the lower edges of the leaves overlap the upper edges of the leaves below them. Liverworts superficially look similar to mosses. However, apart to other less conspicuous differences, they have differently arranged leaves on the stem. Liverwort leaves are usually arranged in two lateral ranks with a third row of usually much smaller and differently shaped leaves on the back side of the stem (see picture 7a.). Moss leaves have usually a spiral arrangement. If not so, they always lack the third row of the leaves.Ref.:(1) Ian Atherton, Ed., Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland - a field guide, British Bryological Society (2010), p82. (2) V. Wirth, R. Duell, Farbatlas Flechten und Moose, Ulmer, (2000), p 204.(3) B. Marbach, C. Kainz, Moose, Farne und Flechten, BLV (2002). p 46.(4) W. Rothmaler, Exkursionsflora von Deutschland, Niedere Pflanzen, Band 1, 3.Aufl., Spectrum Akademischer Verlag (2005), p 660.
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Rotterdam, South Holland, Netherlands
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Canale Monterano, Lazio, Italy
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Conocephalum salebrosum Szweyk., Buczk. & Odrzyk.Order: MarchantialesEN: Snakewort, Snake-skin Liverwort, DE: Mattes KegelkopfmoosSlo.: kajekoi veliki jetrenjakDat.: April 9. 2019Lat.: 46.35866 Long.: 13.70495Code: Bot_1178/2019_DSC05589, Bot_1180/2019_DSC465 Picture file names: from Conocephalum-salebrosum_raw_10 to Conocephalum-salebrosum_raw_21.Habitat: Moderately incline mountain slope, southeast aspect; river bank, a few m above water level, mixed wood and bushes; humid, cold and shady place; calcareous, rocky ground, partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 6-8 deg C, elevations 530 m (1.740 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: Rocks and soil covered by mosses.Place: Lower Trenta valley, between villages Soa and Trenta, in the Matev's gorge, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC. Comment: Present day liverworts are the closest living relatives of the first land plants, which emerged about 500 million year ago. Conocephalum salebrosum is a species described no earlier than in 2005 (Ref. 6). It is a widespread liverwort. Pictures show male gametophyte (Conocephalum salebrosum is a dioecious species, that means, male and female plants are different). It is very similar to more common Conocephalum conicum and hence not easy to be separated from it in the field (Ref. 4 and 5). The main three diagnostic morphologic traits are the size of the thallus (C. salebrosum is smaller), shiny surface of the thallus of C. conicum, and more conspicuous borders between surface cells of the upper side of the thallus of C. salebrosum.On my pictures one can also see also several antheridial pads (Fig. 15) as well as two brown 'buds' sheathed by scales at the apices of the thalli (overwintering stage, which develops new thalli) (Fig. 13, at the lower edge of the uppermost light green thallus lobe). Also pegged rhizoids (a primitive root-like structures) (Fig.20) which are dead at maturity and function as an effective external waterconducting system are shown. A second type of rhizoids also exist with Conocephalum salebrosum, which are smooth and serve for nutrition and anchorage purposes. These dimorphic rhizoids are characteristic of the archaic, but nevertheless highly developed, complex thalloid liverworts (Ref.7).Yet, I do not know what are the black pits in the thalli (Fig.13, 18) with black, beaked, pear-like structure in the middle. Even in the case that the pictures show a mix of male and female gametophytes, these structures don't look like stalked archegoniophores (the cone-shaped receptacles that bear sporangia) of the female plants. Is this a parasitizing fungus? Ref.:(1) Personal communication with Guido Brusa via iNaturalist.(2) Ian Atherton, Ed., Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland - a field guide, British Bryological Society (2010), p255. (3)
blogs.ubc.ca/biology321/?page_id=3358 (accessed February 6. 2021)(4)
websites.rbge.org.uk/bbs/Recording/conocephalum/conoimage... (accessed February 6. 2021)(5)
websites.rbge.org.uk/bbs/Recording/conocephalum/conosurve... (accessed February 6. 2021)(6) J. Szweykowski, K. Buczkowska, I.J. Odrzykoski, Conocephalum salebrosum (Marchantiopsida, Conocephalaceae) - A new Holarctic liverwort species, 2005, Plant Systematics and Evolution 253(1):133-158
www.researchgate.net/publication/226397121_Conocephalum_s... (7) J. G. Duckett, R. Ligrone, K. S. Renzaglia, S. Pressel, (2013) Pegged and smooth rhizoids in complex thalloid liverworts (Marchantiopsida): structure, function and evolution, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 174, 6892.,
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/boj.12121 (accessed February 6. 2021)Camera: Nikon D700 / Nikkor Micro 105mm/f2.8 and Sony ILCE6000 / Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar E 16-70 mm/f4
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Geneva, Florida, United States
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Pellia epiphyllaCommon LiverwortSlo.: navadni jetrnjakDat.: Sept. 05. 2008Lat.: 45.48812 Long.: 13.74346Code: Bot_294/2008-3078Habitat: In stream bed in a narrow shady ravine, dense mixed bushes and trees, in shade, precipitations 1.000-1.100 mm/year, average temperature 12 deg C, elevation 160 m (520 feet), submediterranean phytogeographical region. Place: Near village Kotabona, Supot stream gorge, Istria, Slovenia EC
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Pellia endiviifoliaEndive PelliaSlo.: ?Dat.: Oct. 02. 2010Lat.: 46.03581 Long.: 14.02119Code: Bot_462/2010_IMG2584Habitat: Almost vertical clay road cut flank, turned east, thick soil layer, calcareous ground, fairly humid but sunny place, fully exposed to direct rain, average precipitations 2.000-2.600 mm/year, average temperature 8-10 deg C, elevation 300 m (980 feet), borderline between prealpine and Dinaric phytogeographical region.Substratum: soil. Place: Near confluence of rivers Idrijca and Ganik, right bank of river Idrijca, close to Spodnja Idrija town, Gorika, Slovenia ECComments: The small yellow-green highly branched branches on much larger basic thallus are characteristic for autumnal form of this liverwort. It was formerly called P. endiviifolia fo. furcigera.Pellia endiviifolia is a dioicous plant. Pictures mainly show female plants and the close-up picture shows two female sexual organs.Ref.:(1) Personal communication dr. Andrej Martini. (2) I. Atherton (ed), Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland - a field guide, BBS, (2010), p237.
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Metzgeria furcata (L.) Dumort., syn.: Jungermannia furcata L.. Metzgeria glabra Raddi, Herverus furcatus (L.) Gray, Fasciola furcata (L.) Dumort., Blasia furcata (L.) Fr.. Family: Metzgeriaceae H.Klinggr.EN: Forked Veilwort, DE: Gewhnliches IgelhaubenmoosSlo.: navadna trakavkaDat.: May 8. 2021Lat.: 46.35933 Long.: 13.70547Code: Bot_1366/2021_DSC2654 Habitat: Steep mountain slope, east aspect; bushes and smaller trees; calcareous, colluvial ground, humid place mostly in shade; partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 6-8 deg C, elevations 535 m (1.750 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: on mosses.Place: Lower Trenta valley, right bank of river Soa; between villages Soa and Trenta; next to the trail from main road to abandoned farmhouse Skokar, Trenta 2, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC. Comment: Metzgeria furcata is a common liverwort in Trenta valley and elsewhere. It grows mainly on bark of deciduous trees, preferring Fraxinus excelsior. Sometimes it can be found also on rocks, soil or mosses. This find is growing on mosses (see Fig.7). The liverwort is splitting strictly dichotomously and the angle between braches is fairly constant around 80 to 90 degrees. Scattered, irregular hairs on the edges of the thallus (Fig 5.) are also characteristic for this species. Ref.:(1) Ian Atherton, Ed., Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland - a field guide, British Bryological Society (2010), p 246. (2) V. Wirth, Die Flechten Baden-Wrttembergs, Teil.1. 2., Ulmer (1995), p 175.(3) V. Wirth, R. Duell, Farbatlas Flechten und Moose, Ulmer, (2000), p 191.
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Preissia quadrata (Scop.) Nees syn.: Preissia commutata NeesOrder: Marchantiales Limpr.Family: Marchantiaceae (Bisch.) linflayGenus: Preissia CordaEN: Blister ribbon, Narrow Mushroom-headed Liverwort, DE: Preiss-Lebermoos, Quadratisches PreissmoosSlo.: robata stisnjenkaDat.: May 19. 2010Lat.: 46.31178 Long.: 13.55632Code: Bot_420/2010_DSC2259 Habitat: roadside of forest road escarpment, mixed wood edge; fairly steep mountain slope, north aspect; relatively cool and moist place; mostly in shade; calcareous ground; exposed to direct rain; average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 7-9 deg C, elevations 510 m (1.670 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: sandy moist soil.Place: Bovec basin, at the foot of Mt. Polovnike ridge, south of village ezsoa, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC Comment: Preissia quadrata is a thallose liverwort widely distributed in north hemisphere. As a member of liverworts it possibly belongs to the most early-evolved group of plants colonizing land environments. It is strictly bound to calcareous ground. Thalli produce male and female sexual organs in a form of up to 2 cm long stalks with flat or lobed discs at their apices. Smaller, male stalks are called antheridiophore and taller female stalks archegoniophore arpocephalum. Sometimes both appear on the same thallus (monoicous plants) or thalli have gametophytes that produce only sperm or eggs but never both (dioicous plants). Sperms are distributed by splashing rain drops but they can also swim the whole way to the female receptacles. This is of cause possible only if both male and female receptacles are surrounded by water (Ref.: 2). So water is essential for sexual propagation of these creatures.Ref.:(1) Ian Atherton, Ed., Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland - a field guide, British Bryological Society (2010), p 257; available at:
rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/bbs/activities/liverworts/Preissia%2... (2)
www.biologydiscussion.com/bryophyta/quick-notes-on-marcha... (accessed Dec. 26.2018)(3)
botanyphoto.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/2015/05/preissia-quadr... (accessed Dec. 26. 2018)
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North Carolina, United States
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Lbeck, Schleswig-Holstein, Deutschland
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Canale Monterano, Lazio, Italy
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Conocephalum salebrosum Szweyk., Buczk. & Odrzyk.Order: MarchantialesEN: Snakewort, Snake-skin Liverwort, DE: Mattes KegelkopfmoosSlo.: kajekoi veliki jetrenjakDat.: April 9. 2019Lat.: 46.35866 Long.: 13.70495Code: Bot_1178/2019_DSC05589, Bot_1180/2019_DSC465 Picture file names: from Conocephalum-salebrosum_raw_10 to Conocephalum-salebrosum_raw_21.Habitat: Moderately incline mountain slope, southeast aspect; river bank, a few m above water level, mixed wood and bushes; humid, cold and shady place; calcareous, rocky ground, partly protected from direct rain by tree canopies, average precipitations ~ 3.000 mm/year, average temperature 6-8 deg C, elevations 530 m (1.740 feet), alpine phytogeographical region. Substratum: Rocks and soil covered by mosses.Place: Lower Trenta valley, between villages Soa and Trenta, in the Matev's gorge, East Julian Alps, Posoje, Slovenia EC. Comment: Present day liverworts are the closest living relatives of the first land plants, which emerged about 500 million year ago. Conocephalum salebrosum is a species described no earlier than in 2005 (Ref. 6). It is a widespread liverwort. Pictures show male gametophyte (Conocephalum salebrosum is a dioecious species, that means, male and female plants are different). It is very similar to more common Conocephalum conicum and hence not easy to be separated from it in the field (Ref. 4 and 5). The main three diagnostic morphologic traits are the size of the thallus (C. salebrosum is smaller), shiny surface of the thallus of C. conicum, and more conspicuous borders between surface cells of the upper side of the thallus of C. salebrosum.On my pictures one can also see also several antheridial pads (Fig. 15) as well as two brown 'buds' sheathed by scales at the apices of the thalli (overwintering stage, which develops new thalli) (Fig. 13, at the lower edge of the uppermost light green thallus lobe). Also pegged rhizoids (a primitive root-like structures) (Fig.20) which are dead at maturity and function as an effective external waterconducting system are shown. A second type of rhizoids also exist with Conocephalum salebrosum, which are smooth and serve for nutrition and anchorage purposes. These dimorphic rhizoids are characteristic of the archaic, but nevertheless highly developed, complex thalloid liverworts (Ref.7).Yet, I do not know what are the black pits in the thalli (Fig.13, 18) with black, beaked, pear-like structure in the middle. Even in the case that the pictures show a mix of male and female gametophytes, these structures don't look like stalked archegoniophores (the cone-shaped receptacles that bear sporangia) of the female plants. Is this a parasitizing fungus? Ref.:(1) Personal communication with Guido Brusa via iNaturalist.(2) Ian Atherton, Ed., Mosses and Liverworts of Britain and Ireland - a field guide, British Bryological Society (2010), p255. (3)
blogs.ubc.ca/biology321/?page_id=3358 (accessed February 6. 2021)(4)
websites.rbge.org.uk/bbs/Recording/conocephalum/conoimage... (accessed February 6. 2021)(5)
websites.rbge.org.uk/bbs/Recording/conocephalum/conosurve... (accessed February 6. 2021)(6) J. Szweykowski, K. Buczkowska, I.J. Odrzykoski, Conocephalum salebrosum (Marchantiopsida, Conocephalaceae) - A new Holarctic liverwort species, 2005, Plant Systematics and Evolution 253(1):133-158
www.researchgate.net/publication/226397121_Conocephalum_s... (7) J. G. Duckett, R. Ligrone, K. S. Renzaglia, S. Pressel, (2013) Pegged and smooth rhizoids in complex thalloid liverworts (Marchantiopsida): structure, function and evolution, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 174, 6892.,
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/boj.12121 (accessed February 6. 2021)Camera: Nikon D700 / Nikkor Micro 105mm/f2.8 and Sony ILCE6000 / Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar E 16-70 mm/f4