SafePlants

Crescent-cup Liverwort (Lunularia cruciata)

Lunularia cruciata, commonly known as the crescent-cup liverwort, is a fascinating bryophyte often found in damp, shaded environments.

Considerations for Pets

• Lunularia cruciata forms large thalli.
• This liverwort likes to live in areas that have a lot of shade, sometimes in gardens.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Lunularia cruciata (L.) Dumort. ex Lindb.
• Common Name: Crescent-cup Liverwort
• Order: Marchantiales
• Family: Lunulariaceae
• Genus: Lunularia
• Species: Lunularia cruciata
• Synonyms: Lunularia cruciata (Linnaeus) Dum.

Distribution and Habitat

• Lunularia cruciata is native to Europe.
• It thrives in shaded areas of gardens.
• It has also been found in California (Orange County).

Morphological Characteristics

• Forms large, dichotomously branching thalli up to 12 mm wide.
• The thalli are pale green and have a shiny, faintly lined surface dotted with tiny air pores.
• Named for their crescent-shaped gemma cups.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• The cells of the thallus of Lunularia cruciata may contain a fungus.
• It is known to be colonized by Glomus fungi.

Quirky Facts

• One observer estimates that L. cruciata makes up less than 2% of the liverwort they have seen.
• Sporophytes of Lunularia cruciata have been recorded in Germany.

Further Information

• Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 15564 (Integrated Taxonomic Information System - ITIS)
• Discover Life provides information about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification, and distribution of Lunularia cruciata.
• Additional multimedia can be found on Wikimedia Commons.
• Encyclopedia of Life.