Riccardia intercellula
Common name
Liverwort
Synonyms
None (first described in 1989)
Family
Aneuraceae
Flora category
Non-vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
Yes
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
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 | Threatened – Nationally Critical | Qualifiers: DP, OL
Previous conservation status
2004 | Threatened – Nationally Critical
Distribution
Endemic. South Island, Glasgow Range
Detailed description
Monoicous. Thallus pale green, flaccid, creeping 7-10 mm long, 691-860 microns wide with rounded apices. Growth indeterminate, branching alternate to subopposite with simple pinnate development except where a side branch shows continued development. Mucilage papillae dorsal and ventral 100-200 x 16-25 microns, persisting on both surfaces. Rhizoids present on the ventral surface, stolons and gemmae not observed. Axis plano-convex with an acute unwinged margin., thallus 147-163 microns thick; cell walls thin to very slightly thickened and cells of the ventral epidermis and 1-2 underlying layers of less depth than those overlying them. Thalli epidermal cell walls lightly rugose. Dorsal epidermal cells hexagonally elongate, 102 x 25 microns, and 21 microns deep. Ventral epidermal cells all similar 77 x 18 microns, and 21 microns deep. Dorsal subepidermal cells all similar 122 x 34 microns. Ventral subepidermal cells all similar 103 x 26 microns. Internal cells 38 microns deep. Oil-bodies 1-2 brown, granular and ellipsoidal oil-bodies per cell, 13 x 8 microns, common in young growth, less frequent in older. Endophytic mycorrhizae 3-5 microns wide, present in interstices of the 2-3 layers of smaller ventral cells. Male and female branches alternating. Male branches solitary or branched, mostly arising from the main axis, sessile, bearing 1-3 pairs of antheridia. Female branches solitary, positioned like male, with 2-3 pairs of archegonia. Calyptra little known. Sporophyte unknown.
Fruiting
Although fruit has been seen insufficient information exists to provide any details on the timing of fruiting
Threats
Known only from the type gathering. Exact threats not clear but evidently a very uncommon plant.
Substrate
Alpine. Terricolous at the base of tussock (Chionochloa Zotov) culms.
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 intercellula Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/riccardia-intercellula/ (Date website was queried)