Forked Veilwort - Metzgeria furcata

Description

This thallose species forms yellowish green patches on trunks and larger branches. The thalli that are just over 1 mm wide, and possess a thick, strongly contrasting midrib and a forked tip. The margins are flat or slightly down curved with a line of scattered hairs. Inflorescences can be found on the underside of most patches, but sporophytes are only occasional. Narrow, almost linear gemmae are sometimes found on the thallus margins.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

Bark of a wide range of trees and shrubs, including ash (Fraxinus excelsior), sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) and willow (Salix). Occasionally on rocks, walls or graves, especially in western districts.

When to see it

All year.

UK Status

Common.

VC55 Status

Common.

Leicestershire & Rutland Map

MAP KEY:

Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2020+ | 2015-2019 | pre-2015

UK Map

Species profile

Common names
Forked Veilwort
Species group:
Mosses & Liverworts
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Metzgeriales
Family:
Metzgeriaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
47
First record:
01/03/2009 (Woodward, Steve)
Last record:
02/04/2024 (Smith, Peter)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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