Riccardia multicorpora
Common names
Liverwort
Biostatus
Native
Current conservation status
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: P.J. de Lange, D. Glenny, K. Frogley, M.A.M. Renner, M. von Konrat, J.J. Engel, C. Reeb and J.R. Rolfe.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2020 | At Risk – Naturally Uncommon | Qualifiers: RR
Category
Non-vascular
Structural class
Liverworts
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.
Distribution
Endemic. North and South Islands.
Substrate details
Montane to alpine restiad bogs where terricolous at the bases of Empodisma minus (Hook.f.) Johnson et Cutler.
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.
Detailed taxonomy
Genus
Family
Synonyms
None (first described in 1989)
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Ecology
Fruiting
Fruits not known
Other information
Previous conservation status
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: P.J. de Lange, D. Glenny, K. Frogley, M.A.M. Renner, M. von Konrat, J.J. Engel, C. Reeb and J.R. Rolfe.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2009 | Sparse
Referencing and citations
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.
Attribution
Fact sheet prepared for NZPCN by P.J. de Lange (27 August 2006). Description adapted from Brown & Braggins (1989).