Crescent-cup liverwort
ExplorePlants
Crescent-cup liverwort
Lunularia cruciata
The Crescent-cup liverwort is a small, green plant that grows close to the ground. It looks like tiny cups and loves to live in damp places like forests and gardens.
Habitat: Forests
Appearance
The Crescent-cup liverwort has a flat, ribbon-like body (thallus) that is bright to dark green and often shiny. It features distinctive crescent-shaped cups on its upper surface, which are crucial for its unique reproduction. These cups make it visually stand out from many other small ground-covering plants.
KingdomPlantaePhylumMarchantiophytaClassMarchantiopsidaOrderLunularialesFamilyLunulariaceaeGenusLunularia
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Crescent-cup liverwort is one of the oldest types of land plants on Earth!
It needs water for its male reproductive cells to swim and find female parts!
Its tiny 'gemmae' are like miniature clones, ready to sprout into new plants!
These fascinating plants can thrive in many places, even inside your greenhouse!
Special abilities
Ability
Splash-Cup Reproducer
Crescent-cup liverwort has tiny gemma cups that splash out plantlets when raindrops hit them, spreading new plants!
Ability
Direct Water Absorber
It can absorb water directly through its entire surface, allowing it to thrive in damp places without true roots.
Ability
Anchorless Survivor
Crescent-cup liverwort has simple rhizoids (not true roots) that just help it anchor, letting it live on rocks or bark.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 0.5-2 cm
- Spread
- 1-5 cm
- Edible
- No
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Water
Ecological connections
eaten by
Black slug
Arion ater
Slugs may graze on its moist thallus
eaten by
Garden snail
Helix aspersa
Snails can consume parts of the liverwort
shelters
White springtail
Folsomia candida
Provides microhabitat for small invertebrates
Traits
Nonvascular
This trait characterizes plants lacking specialized vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) for transporting water and nutrients.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Spore Producing
Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores.
Ancient Lineage
This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years.
Decomposer
Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Miniature
Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is Crescent-cup liverwort?
0.5-2 cm
How wide does Crescent-cup liverwort spread?
1-5 cm
Is Crescent-cup liverwort edible?
No
Is Crescent-cup liverwort toxic?
None
What is Crescent-cup liverwort's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is Crescent-cup liverwort pollinated?
Water
Where is Crescent-cup liverwort usually found?
Forests
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