Sample #4: Aneura pinguis, Liverwort

Name: Aneura pinguis

Common Name: Greasewort

Family: Aneuraceae

Collection Date: September 15, 2016

Habitat: Located next to a stream, within the stream bank. Shady area with damp soil.

Location:  Nelson Ledges

Description: Leaves are waxy, similar to having a greasy look. Plant's have a small thallus. Individual leave have a midrib; however, it is not well defined. There were also no indication of conceptacles on the organism.

Figure 1: Aneura pignuis sample

Figure 2: Leaf from the liverwort sample. As can be seen, there is a pattern of hexagons across the surface. Each hexagon contains a white spot.

Key Used: Field Key. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/bbs/Activities/BBS Field Guide Field Key.pdf

 Keying Steps:

Plant without distinct leaves….Thallose Liverworts

1b. Thallus without gemmae in receptacles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

8. Upper surface of thallus without such markings and pores . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

11. Plants deep or vivid green; habit various . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

15. Thallus 3 mm wide or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

19. Midrib not well-defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

23.Plants vivid mid-green, with a greasy appearance; thalli parallel-sided; margins curved upwards; fertile parts on thallus sides; capsules egg-shaped, held on a colorless seta . . . Aneura pinguis