Moss

Liverworts

Where?

Mosses of the liverwort group (Marchantiophyta) can be found on many stream banks or in moist areas near springs. They grow in individual groups or in extensive lawns on stones or on nutrient-poor soils in the shade. Of these, some are more sensitive to nutrients, such as the liverwort Chiloscyphus polyanthos (see photo below), which is found in Luxembourg, and some are less so. The most widespread is the fountain liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha).

Appearance?

Liverworts grow rather flat and often overlay each other like lobes. Some form a kind of cup on their surface. Many liverworts form spore capsules after some time, which are roughly comparable to fertilized seeds of higher plants.

Water-Mosses

Where?

The group of spring mosses belong to the mosses living under water. The moss Philonotis fontana, colonizes light-rich, lime- and nutrient-poor, mostly cold spring areas. It occurs in bogs and on trickling spring rocks. The common water moss Fontinalis antipyretica grows mostly in slow-flowing, rarely in standing waters. It is mostly found in clean, nutrient-poor (oligotrophic) streams and larger lakes in Luxembourg. It grows there on stones and occurs in the low mountain range.