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Chiloscyphus polyanthos: An Overview

Chiloscyphus polyanthos, also known as St Winifrid's Moss or Pale Liverwort, is a liverwort belonging to the family Geocalycaceae (sometimes also reported as Lophocoleaceae).

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Chiloscyphus polyanthos (L.) Corda
• Common Names: St Winifrid's Moss, Pale Liverwort
• Family: Geocalycaceae (sometimes also reported as Lophocoleaceae)
• Class: Hepaticopsida
• Subclass: Jungermanniae
• Order: Jungermanniales
• Synonyms and Varieties:
  • Chiloscyphus pallescens
  • Chiloscyphus polyanthos var. pallescens (Ehrh. ex Hoffm.) Dumort.
  • Chiloscyphus polyanthos var. fragilis (Roth) K.Muell.
  • Chiloscyphus polyanthos var. rivularis (Schrad.) Nees (synonym or closely related)
  • Jungermannia polyanthos L. (basionym)
• Symbol: CHPO14

Distribution and Habitat

This liverwort exhibits a wide distribution across various regions:

• Afghanistan
• Alaska
• Atlantic islands
• Australia (mainland)
• Balkan Peninsula
• Baltic states
• Belgium
• Beringian Arctic
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Caucasus
• Central Europe
• Observed in locations such as Broadstone Warren, Forest Row, Sussex, on stones in streams.
• Germany (Schwarzwald)

It is described as a Boreo-temperate Circumpolar element.

Botanical Information

• Classified within the group Levermossen (in Dutch).
• It's described as "elinvoimainen maksasammallaji" in Finnish, which translates to "vigorous liverwort species".

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Diatom communities are found associated with Chiloscyphus polyanthos var. rivularis in mountain spring-fed streams.

Research and Further Information

• Taxonomic Serial No.: 14565 (ITIS TSN 14565)
• Tropicos database.
• The Plant List
• NYBG Virtual Herbarium
• Musum national d'Histoire naturelle
• Natural History Museum's UK species observations.
• Discover Life's page on Chiloscyphus polyanthos.

Quirky Facts

• In Icelandic, Chiloscyphus polyanthos is known as "lkjalindi."