Cephaloziella phyllacantha
Marchantiophyta
Cephaloziella phyllacantha (Cephaloziellaceae)
None
XXXXXX
Rare
Distinguishing Features
A rare cryptic species of very damp rock and soil near waterfalls where it threads its way through other, larger bryophytes, Cephaloziella phyllacantha is a whitish green and toothy plant so small that it is unlikely to be detected without a microscope. The deeply lobed leaves (to within a few cells of their base) are flamboyantly toothed, with tall conical papillae over many of the leaf cells (see image) that are unique to this species.
Similar species
Cephaloziella turneri, C. elachista and C. spinigera all have deeply divided leaves with somewhat prominent teeth, as in C. phyllacantha. All of these similar species lack the conical papillae under the microscope. Its also useful to know that they grow in very different habitats- C. turneri in seasonally hot and dry areas, while both C. elachista and C. spinigera are "Sphagnicolous", growing between the shoots of Sphagnum in bogs and fens.
Habitat
XXXXXX
Associated species
XXXXXX