SafePlants

Forked Veilwort (Metzgeria furcata)

Metzgeria furcata, commonly known as Forked Veilwort, is a frequent liverwort found in various environments.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Metzgeria furcata (L.) Dumort.
• Family: Metzgeriaceae
• Genus: Metzgeria
• Synonyms:
  • Echinogyna furcata Dumort., 1831
  • Echinomitrion furcatum Corda, 1832
  • Fasciola furcata Dumort., 1822
  • Metzgeria furcata (L.) Corda
• Variety: Metzgeria furcata var. setigera R.M. Schust. and Metzgeria furcata var. ulvula Nees (synonym)
• Finnish Common Name: Suikalesammal

Distribution and Habitat

• Metzgeria furcata is found throughout the British Isles and is considered a Boreo-temperate European element.
• It grows on the bark of a wide range of tree and shrub species, and occasionally on rocks.
• Specific locations mentioned include:
  • Trefusis Grove, Falmouth, 1847
  • Wuppertal Kohlfurt, Germany
  • Salzburg, Austria

Morphological Characteristics

• This species forms yellowish-green patches on trunks and larger branches.
• The thalli are just over 1 mm wide.
• Linear, fork-like branched and 0.5 - 1 cm long
• The thallus has only 3 layers of cells

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Bryocentria hypothallina, a new species of fungus, grows necrotrophically on Metzgeria furcata.

Quirky Facts

• The genus name Metzgeria is dedicated by the botanist Raddi to his friend the engraver.
• The specific epithet furcata comes from the Latin word "furca," meaning fork, referring to the shape of the thallus.

Further Information

• Taxonomic Serial Number: 15480 (ITIS)
• GBIF view on Metzgeria furcata
• Discover Life's page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification and distribution of Metzgeria furcata