# Flat-leaved Scalewort (*Radula complanata*) Flat-leaved Scalewort is a special plant that grows in wet places like streams and ponds. It has flat, green leaves that look like tiny scales and is very important for keeping water clean. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Flat-leaved Scalewort](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Radula_complanata_100108a.jpg&width=800) Photo: Bernd Haynold, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Radula_complanata_100108a.jpg) ## Appearance The Flat-leaved Scalewort has flattened, overlapping, bright to dark green leaves that form a low-lying, often glossy mat. Its distinctive two-lobed leaves are tightly pressed against surfaces, making it look like tiny green scales on rocks or tree bark. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Marchantiophyta - **Class:** Jungermanniopsida - **Order:** Porellales - **Family:** Radulaceae - **Genus:** Radula ## Interesting facts - It doesn't have true roots, stems, or leaves like other plants! - Its name comes from the way its leaves look like fish scales! - This tiny plant belongs to an ancient group called liverworts, older than dinosaurs! - To reproduce, it needs a thin film of water for its tiny sperm to swim! ## Special abilities - **Moisture Magnet:** Flat-leaved Scalewort can absorb water directly through its leaves, helping it stay hydrated in damp, humid environments. - **Clone Creator:** Flat-leaved Scalewort can produce tiny detachable buds called gemmae, allowing it to quickly clone itself and spread. - **Surface Hugger:** Flat-leaved Scalewort has tiny root-like structures called rhizoids, which anchor it firmly to rocks and bark. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 0.5-2 cm - **Spread:** 5-15 cm - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Springtail (*Folsomia candida*) — Springtails graze on its tender plant tissues. - **Eaten by:** Land Snail (*Cepaea nemoralis*) — Snails occasionally feed on liverwort patches. - **Shelter:** Water Bear (*Ramazzottius varieornatus*) — Tiny tardigrades find shelter within its moist mats. - **Shelter:** Moss Mite (*Scheloribates laevigatus*) — Microscopic mites live among its flattened leaves. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Grass-Like](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grass-like): Grass-like plants are herbaceous plants that visually resemble true grasses, typically having long, narrow leaves. - [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. - [Edible](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/edible): Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after touching plants, just to be safe! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Flat-leaved Scalewort? 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 Flat-leaved Scalewort? 0.5-2 cm ### How wide does Flat-leaved Scalewort spread? 5-15 cm ### Is Flat-leaved Scalewort edible? No ### Is Flat-leaved Scalewort toxic? None ### What is Flat-leaved Scalewort's lifecycle? Perennial ### Where is Flat-leaved Scalewort usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Bear Swamp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-swamp) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Chesterfield Gorge](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/chesterfield-gorge) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Campbell Falls State Park Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/campbell-falls-state-park-reserve) — Connecticut, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Flat-leaved Scalewort](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/flat-leaved-scalewort) ## 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: [Flat-leaved Scalewort: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/flat-leaved-scalewort)