Kingdom Plantae Class Jungermanniopsida Genus Marchesinia Order Jungermanniales | Division Marchantiophyta Family Lejeuneaceae Rank Species | |
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Similar Lejeunea, Nowellia curvifolia, Frullania dilatata, Lophocolea heterophylla, Kurzia | ||
Marchesinia mackaii, MacKay's pouncewort, is a species of leafy liverwort.
Contents
Description
Marchesinia mackaii grows in colonies of flattened worm-like shoots covering rock surfaces.
Shoots are usually black and are up to 5 cm long and 4 mm wide. The leaves are rounded with a smaller inflated and toothed postical lobe. The underleaves are round and entire.
Distribution
Marchesinia mackaii is global in its distribution.
In Europe it is strongly western and somewhat southern.
Ecology
Marchesinia mackaii grows primarily on shaded basic rocks, typically vertical faces within woodland. It can occasionally be found on trees especially European yew (Taxus baccata)
According to Ratcliffe's account of oceanic bryophytes bordering the Atlantic, M. mackaii is classified as a Southern Atlantic species. M. mackaii is consistently calcicolous in its choice of substrate.
Cultivation and Uses
The plant is not known to be widely cultivated.