ESSEX BOTANY AND MYCOLOGY GROUPS
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ESSEX BOTANY AND MYCOLOGY GROUPS |
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Nardia & Solenostoma;
Jungermanniaceae
Scroll down for Nardia geoscyphus and Solenostoma gracillimum
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A small liverwort with shoots only c.1.5mm wide, with the two rows of incubous lateral leaves folded upwards like closed butterflies wings, with the front margins expanded so that they curve downwards beside the stem. They usually get larger towards the apex of the plant. The cells have 1-3 large smooth, glistening oil bodies that persist for several years on drying in a packet, in contract to the closely related N. geocyphyus that has dull granular oil bodies that disappear within 6 months of drying. It is very similar to Solenostoma gracillimum, but the genus Nardia differs in having underleaves. These are stiff, narrowly pointed, and usually stick out conspicuously, though they can sometimes be difficult to see against a mass of rhizoids. Most populations of Solenostoma gracillimum also have a conspicuous band of large pale cells bordering the underleaves, but some forms do not and can be confused with N. scalaris, necessitating a thorough search for the presence or absence of underleaves. Although dioecious, in contrast to the monoecious N. geosyphus, it is often fertile, and is further separated from N. geoscyphus by its rounded, unnotched leaves. A plant of nutrient poor, mineral soils with a pH typically of less than 3. In Essex it is a rare plant of bare banks kept moist by overhanging vegetation, and is probably on the verge of extinction due to metalling of the rides in Epping Forest, a decline in acid rain, and trampling. Despite the insertion of fibre optic cable involving cutting back the roadside bank of its most stable site on the south side of the Theydon Road just east of Jacks Hill Bog, it has recolonized the bank, sheltered by patches of Calluna. It is now only known from this one site. Geologically, the localities are largely confined to exposures of Bagshot Sands,. Woodford Gravels or Older Head. |
All records:
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__________________________________________________________________________________ Nardia geoscyphus (de Not.) Lindb. Earth-cup Flapwort __________________________________________________________________________________
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Solenostoma gracillimum (de Not.) Lindb. Crenulated Flapwort
[Solenostoma crenulatum, Jungermannia gracillima, Plectocolea crenulata] __________________________________________________________________________________
All records:
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