Plagiochila asplenioides Greater Featherwort

A robust, dioicous, leafy liverwort which grows in woodlands, hedgebanks and ravines where it forms large, conspicuous rounded tufts. It is occasionally found in species-rich grassland. It is one of the largest leafy liverworts in Britain and can only be confused with Plagiochila porelloides, which grows in similar habitats and is usually smaller (see description of that species). It is found throughout Britain but is rather scattered and scarce in parts of middle and east England and it is absent from the highlands of Scotland. It is found throughout most of Wales. In West Glamorgan it is a common species in Gower Ash woodlands and on the mineral-rich, valley base woodlands of Neath Port Talbot. It is rare or absent from the upland Sessile-oak woodlands that occur on the steep valley slopes. Sporophyte capsules are very rare.