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Sphaerocarpos michelii

Scientific Name: Sphaerocarpos michelii

Family: Sphaerocarpaceae

Category: Liverwort

Growth: Nonvascular

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Sphaerocarpos michelii

Sphaerocarpos michelii, also known as Micheli's Balloonwort, is a fascinating species of bottle liverwort.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Sphaerocarpos michelii Bellardi
  • Authority: Bellardi
  • Family: Sphaerocarpaceae
  • Rank: Species
  • Synonyms:
    • Sphaerocarpos terrestris Sm. (nom. illeg.)
    • Sphaerocarpos lagenarius Dumort. 1822

Distribution and Habitat

  • Sphaerocarpos michelii has a wide distribution, including:
    • Atlantic islands
    • Balearic Islands
    • Balkan Peninsula
    • Belgium
    • Continental USA (including Illinois, Kansas, and Virginia)
    • Crete
    • Europe
    • France
    • Holland
    • Iberian Peninsula
    • Israel
    • Italy
    • North Africa
    • Turkey
  • It is often found in vineyards and in pastures with moist soils.

Morphological Characteristics

  • Sphaerocarpos michelii is a small thallose liverwort.
  • It is a nonvascular plant.
  • Spores are united in tetrads and densely alveolate.

Associations

  • Sphaerocarpos michelii is commonly found alongside:
    • Riccia cavernosa
    • Riccia sorocarpa
    • Sphaerocarpos texanus
    • Various low mosses such as Bryum dichotomum and Bryum rubens

Further Information

  • GBIF Backbone
  • Encyclopedia of Life
  • Tropicos (Missouri Botanical Garden Bryophyte Database - MO Bryo)
  • British Bryological Society Checklist