Lejeunea patens Pearl Pouncewort

An autoicous, Hyperoceanic leafy liverwort which grows on rock faces and as an epiphyte on trees in humid woodlands. It often has a pearly appearance which is not shown by the other two common Lejeunea species. It can be confused with Lejeunea lamacerina, but the smaller lobule of the leaf makes a sharp acute angle (see photo). Like that species, the leaf cells contain few (<10) oil bodies. It is rather local in West Glamorgan and most commmonly found in very humid woodlands along with other hyperoceanic epiphytes. In the Pyrddin Valley it grows on vertical rock faces along the banks of the river. Sporophytes are common.