Lunularia cruciata Crescent-cup Liverwort

A prostrate, pale-green, irregularly branched, dioicous thallose liverwort that grows on soil as well as hard ground such as rock, stones and brickwork, often in gardens. Crescent-shaped cups that contain disc-shaped gemmae occur on the surface of the thallus, which is also dotted conspicuously with air pores. It is found in most of Britain except the far north and is common and widespread in Wales. In West Glamorgan it occurs mostly in lowland urban environments and is a common weed of flower beds in parks, industrial estates and gardens. Male plants are uncommon and the production of male and female sex organs only occurs after mild winters. Sporophytes are rare and produced more often in the milder climates of the west. Gemmae are usually produced in abundance and provide a very effective means of vegetative reproduction.