Ellura Sanctuary, Swan Reach, SA, 5354
                      
 
Stat'NotesThumbnails: 67.   16 native species listed, with 11 from Ellura
Plants (Plantae) - Mosses & Liverworts (Bryophyta) - Mosses (Bryopsida) - Mosses & Liverworts
Mosses
Bartramiales
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Moss
Bartramiaceae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Starry Lime Moss
Breutelia affinis
Na
a
 
Patch
Small Head
Large Head, <3mm
Mosses
Bryales
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Moss
Bryaceae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Clear Green Moss
Rosulabryum billardieri
Na
e m a
A spore capsule is called a "Sporangium", plural is "Sporangia"
🔍Head, <5mm
Patch
Colour Variation
Patch with Sporangia
Current Sporangia
Old Sporangia
Mosses
Dicranales
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Moss
Dicranaceae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Blunt-sporangium Moss
Dicranaceae sp ES01


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Andrew Thornhill for identifying this species for us

We originally thought this was a type of Grimmia sp
🔍Above
🔍Profile
Cord Mosses
Funariales
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Cord Moss
Funariaceae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Slender Dunking Ducks
Entosthodon subnudus var gracilis


iNaturalist
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Similar Species: Onion Moss (Gigaspermum repens)
Thank you János Vörösbaranyi for identifying this species for us

~1mm wide at the base.
We originally thought these were the same as Onion Moss (Gigaspermum repens). But that species doesn't have the sporangia on stalks, which are clearly seen here.
Looking at great lengths one can see the leaves are very slightly different.
🔍Base, profile
🔍Whole, profile
🔍Almost Mature Sporangium
🔍Immature Sporangium Sheath
Stalkless Mosses
Gigaspermales
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Stalkless Moss
Gigaspermaceae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Onion Moss
Gigaspermum repens


iNaturalist
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Similar Species: Slender Dunking Ducks (Entosthodon subnudus var gracilis)
Thank you Alan Dandie for identifying this species for us

~1mm wide at the base.
These do not have their sporagia on a stalk, very unique.
🔍Young, Dorsal & Size
🔍Young, Close Up
Dense Leaved Mosses
Grimmiales
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Rock Moss
Grimmiaceae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Grassy Knoll Moss
Grimmia pulvinata


iNaturalist
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Other Common NameGrey-cushioned Grimmia

Thank you Alan Dandie for identifying and Andrew Thornhill for confirming the id of this species for us

Alan said "Capsules inverted amongst the leaves"
🔍Above, perspective
🔍Sporangia
🔍Confusing
🔍Typical Eye view on Rocks
🔍Dried up
Mosses
Hypnales
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Moss
Hypnaceae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Fern Moss
Hypnum cupress ssp cupress
Na
a
 
Unentangled
Close up
Drying
Mosses
Pottiales
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Moss
Pottiaceae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Reddish-leaved Moss
Syntrichia antarctica


iNaturalist
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Thank you Alan Dandie for identifying and Andrew Thornhill for confirming the id of this species for us

Alan said "From Mosses of Dry Forests, by Read and Slattery, 'robust, strap-shaped leaves have a rounded tip with a long, whitish toothed hairpoint.....the nerve is usually a distinct reddish brown. The long cylindrical capsules sit erect on reddish stalks. The lid is long and conical...' Matches your observation to a T."
🔍Whole
🔍Closer
🔍Sporangia
🔍"Leaves"

Plants (Plantae) - Mosses & Liverworts (Bryophyta) - Juniper Mosses (Polytrichopsida) - Mosses & Liverworts
Mosses
Polytrichales
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Moss
Polytrichaceae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Juniper Moss
Polytrichum juniperinum
Na
a
 
Female
Female
Male
Male
Male
Male
Male
Young
Sporangium
Sporangium
Sporangium
Sporangia

Plants (Plantae) - Liverworts (Marchantiophyta) - Leafy Liverworts (Jungermanniopsida) - Mosses & Liverworts
Leafy Liverworts
Fossombroniales
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Leafy Liverwort
Fossombroniaceae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Leafy Liverwort
Fossombronia pusilla
Na
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In fruit
~10-15mm each
Perspective
Leafy Liverworts
Jungermanniales
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Leafy Liverwort
Lophocoleaceae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Flat Fern Liverwort
Chiloscyphus semiteres
Na
a
SynonymsJungermannia semiteres or Lophocolea semiteres

Thank you Michal Dutkiewicz for identifying this species for us
 

Plants (Plantae) - Liverworts (Marchantiophyta) - Liverworts (Marchantiopsida) - Mosses & Liverworts
Crescent Liverworts
Lunulariales
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Crescent Liverwort
Lunulariaceae
  (1 species
    0 from Ellura)
Crescent-cup Liverwort
Lunularia cruciata


iNaturalist
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a
Thank you Dr Guido Brusa for confirming the id of this species for us

The Gemma here look like spores capsules in other life forms, with the cups looking like fruiting bodies.
However, the Gemma are actually parts of the plant that disperse (similarly to seed & spores) and take root. Instead of being wind blown, these are dispersed by raindrops hitting the cup.
The big difference is these are not produce sexually, but more a broken off part of the plant. Thinking of it as a plant that has suckered from roots. The new plant becomes independant of the original, but is a clone of the original.
🔍Whole
Gemma
Whole
Gemma
Liverworts
Marchantiales
  (5 species
    5 from Ellura)
Liverwort
Aytoniaceae
  (1 species
    1 from Ellura)
Warty Liverwort
Asterella drummondii


iNaturalist
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Thank you Alan Dandie & Tony and Jenny Dominelli for identifying this species for us

We've recognised them from the Adelaide Hills with the caps on stalks shown here. But then we found them at Ellura with little balls on the "leaves" and thought they were Riccia limbata. But Riccia doesn't have fruit like this.
Patch
🔍Patch, Early Sporangia
🔍Close Up, Early Sporangia
🔍Early Stage Sporangia
🔍Sporangium, profile
🔍Sporangium Head, ~4mm
Sporangium
Liverworts
Marchantiales
  (5 species
    5 from Ellura)
Liverwort
Ricciaceae
  (4 species
    4 from Ellura)
Rusty-based Crystalwort
Riccia inflexa


iNaturalist
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Thank you Em Lamond & Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Close up
🔍Patch
Liverworts
Marchantiales
  (5 species
    5 from Ellura)
Liverwort
Ricciaceae
  (4 species
    4 from Ellura)
Thallose Crystalwort
Riccia lamellosa


iNaturalist
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Other Common NameThallose Liverwort

Thank you Em Lamond & Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Notice how much larger this one is (on the right of the comparison shot) compared to Spongy Crystalwort (Riccia spongiosula)
🔍Layered Edge
🔍Spongy Surface
🔍Comparison
Liverworts
Marchantiales
  (5 species
    5 from Ellura)
Liverwort
Ricciaceae
  (4 species
    4 from Ellura)
Black-edged Crystalwort
Riccia limbata


iNaturalist
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SynonymRiccia lata

Thank you Jon Sago (crm114) & Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Close Up
A Carpet
Liverworts
Marchantiales
  (5 species
    5 from Ellura)
Liverwort
Ricciaceae
  (4 species
    4 from Ellura)
Spongy Crystalwort
Riccia spongiosula


iNaturalist
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Thank you Em Lamond & Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us
 
🔍Spongy Surface
🔍Colour Variation
🔍Patch Size
🔍Finished

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