Identifying Liverwort 1

Identifying Liverwort 1

Metzgeria Furcata

Name: Metzgeria Furcata
Family:  Metzgeriaceae 

Common Name: forked vielwort  

Collection Date: 9/22/16

Habitat:Located near water. Found on the surface of rock.

Location:South Chagrin Reservation

Description: forked, slim with translucent thallose. Forms green mats around 1mm in size. Has a midrib. Thalli and mid rib fork at end. 

Key Used: Henry S. Conard, 1979, How to know the mosses and liverworts

Keying steps:  

Step 1: Thallus with out hairs on upper surface

Step 2: Underside of midrib 3-7 cells wide

Step 3: Marginal hairs, single thallus, 1mm or less wide. 

 

Figure 1: view of Metzgeria Furcata. View under normal conditions (not microscope)

Figure 2: View of Metzgeria Furcata under microscope. Notice geometric shapes on leaves.

Link: http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=MEFU4