Riccardia multicorpora
Common name
Liverwort
Synonyms
None (first described in 1989)
Family
Aneuraceae
Flora category
Non-vascular – Native
Structural class
Liverworts
Current conservation status
- Conservation status of New Zealand mosses, 2014 (PDF, 583.87 kB)
The conservation status of 109 New Zealand moss taxa was assessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). Four taxa and one undescribed entity that were not included in previous assessments have been added to the list. The conservation status of only two taxa has changed in this assessment. A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for mosses. Authors: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Allan J. Fife, Jessica E. Beever, Patrick J. Brownsey and Rodney A. Hitchmough.
- Conservation status of New Zealand hornworts and liverworts, 2014 (PDF, 695.44 kB)
The conservation status of the New Zealand hornwort and liverwort flora is reassessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the most important changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for New Zealand hornworts and liverworts which previously had been part of a generic bryophyte conservation status assessment that included mosses. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, David Glenny, John Braggins, Matt Renner, Matt von Konrat, John Engel, Catherine Reeb and Jeremy Rolfe.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2009 | Sparse
Distribution
Endemic. North and South Islands.
Detailed description
Dioicous. Plants creeping, often forming extensive populations. Thallus rigid, mid- to dark green, cell walls frequently becoming brown to brownish black in older areas of thallus. Growth indeterminate, branching simply pinnate to bipinnate with minimal tripinnate development, obliquely spreading and alternate to subopposite; main axis and side branches not differentiated but most of side branches growth limited, with the occasional branch showing long continued growth and repeating features of the axis. Thalli 10-15(-30) mm long, 244-347 microns wide. Apices rounded to very slightly cleft. Mucilage papillae 40 x 20 microns, dorsal and ventral persisting for c.1/2 thallus length, not always evident in dried material. Rhizoids ventral, infrequent. Stolons absent. Gemmae not seen. Axis almost plano-convex to biconvex with an acute or rounded margin, 177-195 x 16-215 microns (9-11 cells thick), cells of similar size throughout thallus with their walls only slightly thickened. Dorsal and ventral epidermal and subepidermal cells similar in size. Dorsal epidermal cells almost isodiametric to hexagonally elongate 28-43 x 18-26 microns, and 19-28 microns deep. Ventral epidermal cells of similar shape 19-51 x17-28 microns, and 18-25 microns deep. Dorsal subepidermal cells tending to be more hexagonally elongate, 40-65 x 11-23 microns. Ventral subepidermal cells of similar shape, 32-58 x 13-19 microns. Internal cells (including subepidermal) 15-22 microns deep. Oil-bodies numerous and conspicuous in the dorsal and ventral epidermal cells, granular 0-3 per cell, 8-13 x 5-8 microns, absent from the subepidermal cells. Endophytic mycorrhizae present in lower 3-4 cell layers, occasionally sporadic elsewhere, mycorrhizae c.3 microns wide. Male branches usually solitary or in groups of three, arising from the main axis or on large axial branches, usually sessile but occasionally with a short stalk. Antheridial cavities on dorsal surface in 2-5 pairs separated by 1-2 cells. Female branches solitary or in groups of two, bearing 2-3 pairs of archegonia. Mature Calyptra not seen. Sporophyte unknown.
Fruiting
Fruits not known
Threats
Apparently a widespread, biologically sparse species. Its preferred habitat, montane to alpine restiad-dominated bog is well protected within the New Zealand reserves network.
Substrate
Montane to alpine restiad bogs where terricolous at the bases of Empodisma minus (Hook.f.) Johnson et Cutler.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (27 August 2006). Description adapted from Brown & Braggins (1989).
References and further reading
Brown, E.A.; Braggins, J.E. 1989: A revision on the genus Riccardia S.F. Gray in New Zealand with notes on the genus Aneura Dum. Journal of the Hattori Botanical Labratory 66: 1-132.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Riccardia multicorpora Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/riccardia-multicorpora/ (Date website was queried)