SafePlants

Bazzania: A Deep Dive into Leafy Liverworts

Bazzania is a fascinating genus of leafy liverworts belonging to the family Lepidoziaceae. Known for its diverse species and intricate structures, Bazzania plays a significant role in various ecosystems, especially in humid woodland environments.

Considerations for Pets and Children

• Some Bazzania species are described as slender and having shoots only up to 2mm wide, which could pose a choking hazard if ingested by small animals or children.
• Bazzania trilobata is sometimes referred to as "millipede weed" due to its segmented appearance, which might attract the attention of curious pets or children.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Bazzania Gray
• Family: Lepidoziaceae
• Major Group: Bryophytes (Mosses, Liverworts, and Hornworts)
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Order: Jungermanniales
• Class: Jungermanniopsida
• Synonyms:
  • Jungermannia trilobata (for Bazzania trilobata)
  • Bazzania deflexa (redirected to Bazzania tricrenata var. tricrenata)
• Subspecies (Example): Bazzania ambigua subsp. ovifolia (Stephani) S. Hatt.

Common Names

• Greater Whipwort (for Bazzania trilobata)
• Threelobed Bazzania (for Bazzania trilobata)
• Millipede Weed (for Bazzania trilobata - though this is a descriptive name)

Distribution and Habitat

• Bazzania species are found globally, including in the northern hemisphere.
• Specific locations mentioned include:
  • Canada
  • Bhutan
  • Poland (distribution of Bazzania trilobata coincides with Norway spruce)
  • South Island, New Zealand
  • Hong Kong, China
• Common habitats include:
  • Humid woodland
  • Humus or peaty soil
  • Banks or moist rotting wood on the forest floor
  • Boulders and cliff ledges, usually in coniferous forests
  • Organic substrates such as tree trunks and logs, wetland margins
  • Peri-Alpine bazzania spruce forests

Morphological Characteristics

• Leafy liverworts with a stem.
• Leaves are broad-based and 3-toothed in some species (e.g., B. trilobata).
• Size varies greatly; some species have shoots only up to 2 mm wide, while others are larger.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Bazzania trilobata can be found on moist rotting wood in coniferous forests.
• Extracts from some Bazzania species have shown selective cytotoxic activity against human tumor cell lines.

Quirky Facts

• The genus Bazzania is named after Matteo Bazzani, a professor of anatomy from Bologna and a patron of the botanist Micheli.
• Bazzania trilobata has been nicknamed "millipede weed" due to its resemblance to segmented arthropods.

Further Information

• The PLANTS Database, NRCS, USDA: A valuable resource for information about Bazzania.
• IUCN Red List: Specifically, the assessment for Bazzania bhutanica.