Hainault Forest | Liverworts

VARIABLE-LEAVED CRESTWORT

Lophocolea heterophylla

A fallen hornbeam trunk without bark is showing green patches of a leafy liverwort which on examination shows two rows of tiny leaves.

The leaves are entire at the tip of stem with lower leaves bidentate or two toothed.

L. heterophylla has bidentate leaves which change to more rounded leaves towards the tip of the branch.

SOUTHERN CRESTWORT

Lophocolea semiteres

An alien liverwort from the southern hemisphere growing on rotting hornbeam. This was the first record in Hainault Forest.

Lophocolea semiteres has overlapping, rounded leaves. It is larger than L.bidentata and L.heterophylla. Also found in Epping Forest.

FORKED VEILWORT

Metzgeria furcata

One of the commonest Liverworts in Hainault Forest. The yellowish-green patches contrast with other green colours on trunks. It is a common lowland species found especially in association with Ash trees.

Forked veilwort on an Ash tree at Sheepwater. It has thin strips of tissue known as thalli. Each thallus (singular) is approx 1mm in width and is divided into two (bifurcate). It has a thickened midrib.

Metzgeria furcata on hawthorn. The lobe ends divide into two which shows quite well in this picture.

CRESCENT-CUP LIVERWORT

Lunularia cruciata

This liverwort grows at the water's edge in Olgit's DItch. A half moon structure (gemmae cup) in some lobe centres contain gemmae that detach from the parent plant and develop into new individuals. This species is found on banks and along woodland rides and is often present as a weed of greenhouses and flower pots.

The name 'Crescent-cup' refers to its Moon-shaped cups which contain disc-like gemmae that get washed out of the cups and grow into new plants.

EVEN SCALEWORT

Radula complanata

On hawthorn scrub near Hainault Lake. Although widespread in UK it is the first time Brian Ecott had seen it in Hainault Forest. With thanks to Dr. Kenneth Adams, Recorder of Botany and Bryophytes, Essex Field Club, for the identification.

Tiny yellow-green gemmae lining the frond edges which break off to form new plants.

DILATED SCALEWORT

Frullania dilatata

A patch of Liverwort measuring approximately 5cm across growing on an Ash tree trunk at the old Reservoir site on Hog Hill. With thanks to Dr. Kenneth Adams, Recorder of Flowering Plants and Bryophytes, Essex Field Club for his help in the procedures necessary to determine the identity.

This normally well-pigmented Liverwort can be recognised easily from afar when it forms dark purple round patches on tree bark.Young growth may be green.

Close up of upper part of liverwort.

Close up of underside, lateral leaves rounded.

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