Myriocoleopsis minutissima Minute Pouncewort

A tiny, dull-green, autoicous leafy liverwort which grows as an epiphyte on the trunks, branches and twigs of many trees but particularly willow, hazel, ash, beech, sycamore and elm. The colonies grow in clusters which can be quite large even though the individual shoots and the rounded leaves are so small. The 5-pointed star shape of the perianths is distinctive. It is a Hyperoceanic species which has undergone a spectacular range expansion in southern, western and northern Britain during the last 30 years. Pre-millenium, it was unknown in many parts of Wales where it is now common, particularly in the south and west, and it was not listed in Flora of Glamorgan. It is now a very common epiphyte in West Glamorgan. Sporophyte perianths and capsules are common. It was formerly better known as Cololejeunea minutissima.