# 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. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 4 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Crescent-cup liverwort](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lunularia_cruciata.jpg&width=800) Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lunularia_cruciata.jpg) ## 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Marchantiophyta - **Class:** Marchantiopsida - **Order:** Lunulariales - **Family:** Lunulariaceae - **Genus:** Lunularia ## 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 - **Splash-Cup Reproducer:** Crescent-cup liverwort has tiny gemma cups that splash out plantlets when raindrops hit them, spreading new plants! - **Direct Water Absorber:** It can absorb water directly through its entire surface, allowing it to thrive in damp places without true roots. - **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-slug) (*Arion ater*) — Slugs may graze on its moist thallus - **Eaten by:** [Garden snail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garden-snail) (*Helix aspersa*) — Snails can consume parts of the liverwort - **Shelter:** White springtail (*Folsomia candida*) — Provides microhabitat for small invertebrates ## Traits - [Nonvascular](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nonvascular): This trait characterizes plants lacking specialized vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) for transporting water and nutrients. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Spore Producing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spore-producing): Spore-producing organisms reproduce by releasing small, often single-celled, reproductive units called spores. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless you know they are safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Crescent-cup liverwort? Compare growth form, branching, tiny leaves and any spore capsules. Mosses, liverworts and lichens can share a spot but are very different organisms. Moss Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### 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 ## Where to spot - [Regional Parks Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/regional-parks-botanic-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [El Sereno Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/el-sereno-open-space) — California, US · Park - [Martha Springer Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/martha-springer-botanical-garden) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Nitobe Memorial Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/nitobe-memorial-garden) — British Columbia, CA · Botanical Garden - [Portland Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/portland-aquarium) — Oregon, US · Zoo - [Fairview Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fairview-park) — California, US · Park [View all places to see Crescent-cup liverwort](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/crescent-cup-liverwort) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Crescent-cup liverwort: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/crescent-cup-liverwort)