#Metzgeriaceae

[drhoz]

#2220 - Metzgeria furcata - Forked Veilwort

Named in honor of Johann Metzger (1771–1844), a German copper engraver and art restorer from Staufen im Breisgau, in Baden-Württemberg. 'furcata' means forked. There are 120-200 species of veilwort.

Spotted growing on damp dead wood. I saw a fair number of 'primitive' plants on this trip, and was unaware that to get the best possible ID of liverworts from photos, you need to photograph the underside of the fronds as well, to check for supplementary leaves. At least this one is distinctive enough that wasn't neccesary.

Grows as translucent branching flat fronds, mostly one cell thick, with a midvein, usually on wood, sometimes on stone..

iNaturalist has a good number of sightings recorded in Aotearoa, and a few from other parts of the world, but it seems most common in Europe and the Eastern portions of North America.

Veilworts are found in damp environments on all continents except Antarctica. They have a surprisingly good fossil record, too, for such delicate plants, with some beautifully preserved fossils remarkably similar to existng species found as far back as the Upper Devonian. The living species Cryptothallus mirabilis is white, has plastids that do not differentiate into chloroplasts, and relies entirely on fungal symbiotes for survival.

Craters of the Moon, Taupo Volcanic Zone, New Zealand.