Variable-leaved Crestwort - Lophocolea heterophylla

A delicate, translucent, pale green leafy liverwort with bilobed leaves low down the stem, grading into slightly notched or entire leaves towards the tip of the shoot. The underleaves are also bilobed, with an additional lateral tooth on each side. Shoots are 1 to 3 mm wide, with leaves less than 1.5 mm wide and long. It is strongly aromatic and often fertile.

Often found on the base of trees, but also in a wide range of other habitats, including rotting logs, earthy banks and fallen twigs and litter in woodland. Further north and west, L. heterophylla becomes increasingly characteristic of ancient woodland.

All year round.

A widespread species, most common in southern England.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.