Harpanthus scutatus

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Identification notes

Close inspection of the sloping faces of boulders, rocks, decaying wood and soil in humid woodland or other sheltered places is usually needed to winkle out this small, scarce leafy liverwort. However, it often grows in dense straggling pale to yellow green patches which stand out from the other leafy liverworts it grows with e.g. Saccogyna viticulosa, Scapania nemorea, S.umbrosa, S. gracilis and Diplophyllum albicans.

The shallow leaf sinus is suggestive of something interesting so turn a shoot over and check for underleaves with a hand lens. Harpanthus has notably large underleaves and they are conspicuous.

Read the Field Guide account

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland

View distribution from the BBS Atlas 2014

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