Riccia cavernosa
| Riccia cavernosa | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Marchantiophyta |
| Class: | Marchantiopsida |
| Order: | Marchantiales |
| Family: | Ricciaceae |
| Genus: | Riccia |
| Species: | R. cavernosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Riccia cavernosa | |
Riccia cavernosa, also known as cavernous crystalwort,[1] is a species of liverwort which belongs to the family Ricciaceae.[2]
Description
R. cavernosa develops in rounded rosettes that can reach up to 3 cm in diameter, consisting of numerous lobes that are either oblong or rounded, with their widest part located above the midpoint. The lobes can measure up to 2.5 mm in width and feature a tip that is more or less truncate. Typically, the plants exhibit a yellow-green colour, lacking any reddish pigmentation, and they maintain a yellowish appearance even when dried. The upper surface displays a very short, subtle groove located solely at the tip, along with perforations that extend nearly to the tips of the branches.[3][4]
Discovery
At present, it is estimated that there are 250 species of Riccia, with 152 being widely recognized, while the rest are classified as either 'doubtful' or 'poorly known'.[5]
Riccia cavernosa was identified in New Zealand in February 2016, found at the edges of several artificial wetlands created to support the recovery of a threatened native wading bird (Himantopus novaezelandiae).[5][6] That same year, it was also found in Vermont, growing in the cracks of cement walkways in the city of Burlington.[7][8]
Habitat
R. cavernosa is generally found in moist, exposed environments with neutral to base-rich mud found near reservoirs, lakes, and ponds. It can also be found in damp depressions within agricultural fields, gravel pits, and sand dunes.[3][9]
Awards
In 2022, R. cavernosa was awarded the Latvian moss of the year.[10]
References
- ^ "Riccia cavernosa". britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk.
- ^ "Riccia cavernosa Hoffm". www.gbif.org. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ a b "Riccia cavernosa | Cavernous Crystalwort" (PDF). britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk.
- ^ "Cavernous Crystalwort | NatureSpot". www.naturespot.org. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ a b Rebergen, Aalbert; Glenny, David S.; Frogley, Kelly; Rolfe, Jeremy R.; de Lange, Peter J. (2018-01-02). "Riccia cavernosa (Ricciaceae): a new addition to the liverwort flora of New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 56 (1): 84–90. Bibcode:2018NZJB...56...84R. doi:10.1080/0028825X.2017.1412991. ISSN 0028-825X.
- ^ Frogley, Kelly Maree (2018). "Riccia cavernosa (Ricciaceae): a new addition to the liverwort flora of New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Botany. 56: 84–90. Bibcode:2018NZJB...56...84R. doi:10.1080/0028825X.2017.1412991.
- ^ Sundue, Michael; Bell, David; Biddle, Astrid; Glynn, Grace; Hatmaker, Laura; Martin-Scruse, Gabriel; Michaels, Thomas; Wefferling, Keir (2025-07-25). "The surprising appearance of Riccia cavernosa (Ricciaceae) in North American pavement cracks". Researchscotland. 128 (3): 498. Bibcode:2025Bryol.128..498S. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-128.3.498. hdl:20.500.12594/31834. ISSN 0007-2745.
- ^ Sundue, Michael; Bell, David; Biddle, Astrid; Glynn, Grace; Hatmaker, Laura; Martin-Scruse, Gabriel; Michaels, Thomas; Wefferling, Keir (2025). "The surprising appearance of Riccia cavernosa (Ricciaceae) in North American pavement cracks". The Bryologist. 128 (3). Bibcode:2025Bryol.128..498S. doi:10.1639/0007-2745-128.3.498.
- ^ "Riccia cavernosa Cavernous Crystalwort | West Glamorgan Flora". www.westglamorganflora.org.uk. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ "Make way for the Moss of the Year 2022". eng.lsm.lv. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
External links
Media related to Riccia cavernosa at Wikimedia Commons