# Tree Ruffle Liverwort (*Porella navicularis*)

The Tree Ruffle Liverwort is a small, leafy plant that grows on tree trunks and shady places. It looks like a little green ruffle and helps keep the forest healthy by soaking up water.

- **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Forests

![Tree Ruffle Liverwort](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Porella_navicularis_%2823553175750%29.jpg&width=800)

Photo: USFWS - Pacific Region, Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Porella_navicularis_%2823553175750%29.jpg)

## Appearance

The Tree Ruffle Liverwort has flat, overlapping green leaf-like structures that form a wavy, ruffle-like mat. Its deep green color can deepen to brownish-green in drier conditions, often appearing velvety against tree bark or rocks. It typically grows prostrate, clinging to surfaces.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Plantae
- **Phylum:** Marchantiophyta
- **Class:** Jungermanniopsida
- **Order:** Porellales
- **Family:** Porellaceae
- **Genus:** Porella

## Interesting facts

- Liverworts are ancient plants, older than dinosaurs, lacking true roots, stems, or leaves!
- Liverworts are tiny ecosystem engineers, helping create new soil on bare rocks over time!
- Some can dry out completely and then amazingly rehydrate and restart growing when it rains!
- They need a thin film of water for their 'sperm' to swim and find eggs to reproduce!

## Special abilities

- **Water Sucker:** Tree Ruffle Liverwort has special cells that absorb water like a sponge, helping it stay hydrated in dry spells.
- **Sticky Feet:** Tree Ruffle Liverwort can anchor itself with tiny root-like rhizoids, helping it cling tightly to rough surfaces like bark.
- **Spore Sprinkler:** Tree Ruffle Liverwort releases tiny, dust-like spores into the wind, helping it spread to new damp places.

## Measurements & details

- **Height:** 0.5-2 cm
- **Spread:** 5-15 cm
- **Edible:** No
- **Toxicity:** None
- **Lifecycle:** Perennial

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Spanish slug (*Arion vulgaris*) — Slugs may graze on liverwort tissues when available.
- **Shelter:** Common springtail (*Collembola vulgaris*) — Provides damp microhabitat for tiny invertebrates.
- **Depends on:** [Red Maple](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-maple) (*Acer rubrum*) — Often grows as an epiphyte on the bark of mature trees.

## 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.
- [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.
- [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 wild plants without asking an adult.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Tree Ruffle 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 Tree Ruffle Liverwort?

0.5-2 cm

### How wide does Tree Ruffle Liverwort spread?

5-15 cm

### Is Tree Ruffle Liverwort edible?

No

### Is Tree Ruffle Liverwort toxic?

None

### What is Tree Ruffle Liverwort's lifecycle?

Perennial

### Where is Tree Ruffle Liverwort usually found?

Forests

## 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: [Tree Ruffle Liverwort: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-ruffle-liverwort)