Specimen #13 Liverwort

Specimen 13: Liverwort

Figure 1: Pores are easily visible within the polygonal markings on the thallus in a wet sample. Some bruised areas can be seen, which are said to release an aromatic odor. 

Figure 2: Dry sample of species; pores very visible, as are the rhizines. The specimen appears flat,  and ribbon-like as a thalloid liverwort.

Scientific Name: Conocephalum conicum
Common Name: Great Scented Liverwort
Order: Marchantiales
Family: Conocephalaceae
Collection Date: September 17, 2015
Habitat: Common on moist earth or rocks, often covering many square feet
Location: Cleveland Metro Parks - Chagrin Falls, OH
Description: Largest of thalloid liverworts, conical umbrella only raised up on stalk in spring; emits an aromatic odor when bruised; pores very visible; polygonal markings; grow flat, ribbon-like
Collector: Breanna Beltz

Key Used: Conard, H.S. 1956. How to Know the Mosses and Liverworts. WM. C. Brown Company Publishers. Dubuque, IA.

Key Steps:

• Pictured-Key to Liverworts of North America
• Plants growing flat, ribbon-like --> 2
• Plant opaque by reason of air-spaces inside of item showing air pores and polygonal markings --> 8 
• Air pores visible without lens, each in a polygonal area --> 9 
• Without gemmae, without marginal scales on underside of thallus --> 11
• Air pores on low mound of colorless cells --> Concocephalum conicum pp. 159

Ecology:
Observed to grow with fungal associate, most commonly Dumortiera hirsuta, which was found associated with as many as 25 populations. Populations have a widespread tolerance to temperature (Iqbal, et. al).

Links:

http://bryophytes.plant.siu.edu/imConocephalumConicum.html
http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=COCO38
http://www3.botany.ubc.ca/bryophyte/conocephalum.html
http://www.bbsfieldguide.org.uk/sites/default/files/pdfs/liverworts/Conocephalum_conicum-salebrosum.pdf
http://www.bioref.lastdragon.org/Bryophyta/Conocephalum_conicum.html
http://www.archive-for-bryology.com/Archive%20104.pdf

Liverwort Links:

http://www.britannica.com/plant/liverwort
http://www.backyardnature.net/liverwrt.htm
http://www.anbg.gov.au/bryophyte/what-is-liverwort.html
http://www.hiddenforest.co.nz/bryophytes/liverworts/intro.htm