Common Liverwort - Marchantia polymorpha

Description

This is a green mat forming plant, sometimes purplish in older plants. The plants produce umbrella-like reproductive structures known as gametophores. Those of female plants consist of a stalk with star-like rays at the top. These contain the organs which produce the ova. Male gametophores are topped by a flattened disc and produce the sperm.

Identification difficulty
Habitat

This species grows on soil or sometimes rock in very wet, shaded areas.

When to see it

The plant is visible all year round. The pictures show the reproductive structures appearing in June.

UK Status

Very common throughout Britain

VC55 Status

Very common in Leicestershire and Rutland.

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
Common Liverwort
Species group:
Mosses & Liverworts
Kingdom:
Plantae
Order:
Marchantiales
Family:
Marchantiaceae
Records on NatureSpot:
67
First record:
03/06/2006 (Calow, Graham)
Last record:
02/02/2024 (Pugh, Dylan)

Total records by month

% of records within its species group

10km squares with records

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