medium.jpeg from: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/1419109-Riccia-glauca-ciliaris
Exploring the Fascinating World of Riccia glauca var. ciliaris Warnst. Moss
6c8ed778587f445e6628a8abd1b71a68.jpg from: https://www.asturnatura.com/fotografia/flora/riccia-glauca-1/27378.html
Introduction
Mosses
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are small but mighty plants that play crucial roles in ecosystems around the world. One particularly interesting species is Riccia glauca var. ciliaris Warnst., a type of Riccia moss in the Ricciaceae family. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the captivating details of this tiny but important plant.
Background on Riccia Mosses
Riccia is a genus of thallose liverworts in the Marchantiophyta division and Marchantiopsida class. There are over 150 Riccia species found worldwide. They lack stems and leaves, instead having a flattened, ribbon-like body called a thallus. Riccia mosses reproduce via spores and inhabit a variety of terrestrial and aquatic habitats.
Morphology and Identification of Riccia glauca var. ciliaris
R. glauca var. ciliaris has a small thallus, typically 5-15 mm long and 0.5-2 mm wide. The thallus surface has a distinct network of polygonal areas and is bluish-green in color. The thallus margins have hair-like cilia, a key identifying feature.
206523.jpg from: https://inpn.mnhn.fr/espece/cd_nom/6218
361_Riccia_glauca_2010_08_20_img_7320.jpg from: https://www.bryo.cz/index.php?p=mechorosty_foto&gallery=riccia_glauca&id=361
Sporophytes are embedded in the thallus and release spores when mature.
Global Distribution and Habitat
This moss has a cosmopolitan distribution, found on every continent except Antarctica. It grows in open, disturbed habitats like agricultural fields, gardens, and along trails and roadsides. R. glauca var. ciliaris prefers moist, clay or silt soils and tolerates periodic drying.
Ecological Roles and Adaptations
As a pioneer species, R. glauca var. ciliaris helps stabilize soils and enables other plants to establish. The thallus efficiently absorbs and retains water, an important adaptation for surviving in exposed habitats. Riccia mosses also provide food and shelter for microarthropods and other tiny organisms.
2019-01-06-13-51-17-800×600.jpg from: https://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/learning/species-finder/riccia-glauca/
A-sequence-of-pictures-of-a-dense-rosette-of-Riccia-glauca-collected-in-Austria-Styria.jpg from: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/A-sequence-of-pictures-of-a-dense-rosette-of-Riccia-glauca-collected-in-Austria-Styria_fig3_357272748
riccia_glauca.jpeg from: https://www.korseby.net/outer/flora/bryophyta/ricciaceae/
3179481.jpg from: https://waarnemingen.be/species/17791/
jd_20120323_188.jpg from: https://www.diversitasnaturae.be/diversitas-naturae/plantae/bryophyta/marchantiopsida/marchantiales/ricciaceae/riccia-glauca/
| Characteristic | Description |
|---|---|
| Division | Marchantiophyta |
| Class | Marchantiopsida |
| Order | Marchantiales |
| Family | Ricciaceae |
| Genus | Riccia |
| Species | R. glauca |
| Variety | ciliaris |
| Thallus size | 5-15 mm long, 0.5-2 mm wide |
| Thallus color | Bluish-green |
| Thallus surface | Polygonal network |
| Thallus margin | Hair-like cilia |
| Sporophyte location | Embedded in thallus |
| Habitat | Open disturbed areas, moist soils |
| Distribution | Cosmopolitan, except Antarctica |
Conclusion
Riccia glauca var. ciliaris Warnst. may be small, but this mighty moss plays an outsized role in pioneering habitats and supporting ecosystems around the globe. Next time you see a patch of bluish-green on disturbed ground, take a closer look – you may be witnessing ecological succession in action! What other small but mighty organisms have you noticed in your environment?