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Riccia bifurca

Scientific Name: Riccia bifurca

Family: Ricciaceae

Category: Liverwort

Growth: Nonvascular

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Riccia bifurca: Lizard Crystalwort

Riccia bifurca, commonly known as Lizard Crystalwort, is a fascinating species of liverwort. This page provides an overview of its taxonomy, distribution, ecology, and other interesting aspects.

Considerations for Pets

  • The text mentions that Riccia bifurca has "canaliculate thalli," which are groove-like structures. The presence of these structures, while not inherently dangerous, may be of interest to pet owners.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Riccia bifurca Hoffm.
  • Common Name: Lizard Crystalwort
  • Synonym: Riccia arvensis Aust.
  • Family: Ricciaceae
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Phylum: Hepatophyta (also referred to as Marchantiophyta)
  • Class: Marchantiopsida
  • Order: Marchantiales
  • Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 15621
  • Taxon Version Key: NBNSYS0000036056

Distribution and Habitat

  • Riccia bifurca is native to Canada and has been found in various locations, including Cornwall, Traboe Cross, and heathland areas.
  • It is also found in the Antarctica/subantarctic or Southern Ocean.
  • It is described as a pioneer species on moisture-retaining to moist, light to partially shaded, weakly acidic to basic, nutrient-rich soils.

Morphological Characteristics

  • The plant is a small, dichotomously branched thalloid liverwort.
  • It has long-persistent, orange-brown, canaliculate thalli.
  • Spores have been studied using scanning electron microscopy.

Ecology

  • It is often associated with Riccia beyrichiana.
  • Grows on bare mud within pond margins.

Genetic Information

  • Scanning electron micrographs of spores have been taken, indicating scientific interest in its reproductive structures at a microscopic level.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • The plant is sometimes associated with other bryophytes like Riccia beyrichiana and Physcomitrium eurystomum.

Further Information

  • Encyclopedia of Life: https://eol.org/
  • Discover Life: https://www.discoverlife.org/
  • Tropicos: https://www.tropicos.org/
  • Australian National Botanic Gardens: http://www.anbg.gov.au/photo/apii/id/dig/4104
  • WetlandInfo (Ecology): https://wetlandinfo.ehp.qld.gov.au/wetlands/ecology/components/species/?riccia-bifurca
  • GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility): Available via TAXREF checklist.
  • TERMIUM (Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank)