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Cephalozia: A Genus of Leafy Liverworts

The genus Cephalozia belongs to the family Cephaloziaceae within the major group Bryophytes, which encompasses mosses and liverworts.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Cephalozia (Dumort.) Dumort.
• Family: Cephaloziaceae
• Kingdom: Plantae
• Division: Cephalozia catenulata (Kingdom Plantae &gt Division)
• Group: Bryophytes (Mosses and liverworts)
• Synonym: Cephalozia media Lindb. (for Cephalozia lunulifolia)
• Subspecies Example: Cephalozia bicuspidata ssp. bicuspidata (L.) Dum.
• Variety Example: Cephalozia pleniceps var. caroliniana Schust.

Common Names

• Moon-leaved Pincerwort (for Cephalozia lunulifolia)
• Blunt Pincerwort (for Cephalozia pleniceps)
• Two-horned Pincerwort
• Forcipated Pincerwort
• Zweispitziges Kopfspromoos (German for Cephalozia bicuspidata)
• Rahkapihtisammal (Finnish for Cephalozia lunulifolia)

Distribution and Habitat

• Cephalozia species have a wide distribution, including:
  • Alaska
  • Atlantic islands
  • Balkan Peninsula
  • Baltic states
  • Belgium
  • Bulgaria
  • Canada
  • Caucasus
  • Central Asia
  • Central Russia
  • China mainland
  • New Brunswick
• Cephalozia bicuspidata is commonly found in sunny sites on decorticated rotting wood, rock, or bare mineral soil.
• Cephalozia bicuspidata is found in various habitats in forests and heaths on the Pleistocene.

Morphological Characteristics

• Cephalozia lunulifolia is a tiny leafy-liverwort (0.5-1.0 mm wide) with bilobed leaves.
• Cephalozia bicuspidata often forms dense dark green or brownish-green lawns. Its laterally positioned leaves are arranged transversely.

Quirky Facts

• The name Cephalozia comes from the Greek words "kephal" (head) and "ozos" (branch), referring to the female branch being dilated in the shape of a head.
• The species name "bicuspidata" comes from the Latin words "bi" (two) and "cuspida".

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Cephalozia species are often found in mires alongside other bryophytes like Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia muelleriana, Dicranella heteromalla, Kurzia pauciflora, and Lophozia.

Further Information

• Biodiversity Heritage Library: http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/46289
• Encyclopedia of Life: Go to Encyclopedia of Life Family: Cephaloziaceae for Cephalozia bicuspidata
• The Plant List: Search for Cephalozia leucantha
• NYBG Virtual Herbarium: Search for Cephalozia leucantha
• Musum national d'Histoire naturelle: Search for Cephalozia leucantha
• Discover Life's page about the biology, natural history, ecology, identification and distribution of Cephalozia lunulifolia - Jungermannia connivens fo symbolica