Herbertus borealis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Herbertus borealis |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Division: | |
| Class: |
Jungermanniopsida
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| Order: |
Jungermanniales
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| Family: |
Herbertaceae
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| Genus: |
Herbertus
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| Species: |
H. borealis
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| Binomial name | |
| Herbertus borealis Crundw.
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| Synonyms | |
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Herbertus delavayi |
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Herbertus borealis is a special kind of liverwort. It is a small, green plant that looks a bit like moss. People often call it the northern prongwort. This unique plant was first described in 1970 by a scientist named Alan Crundwell.
About the Northern Prongwort
The northern prongwort is a very rare plant. It is found only in one country: Scotland. When a plant or animal is found only in one specific place, it is called endemic. This means Herbertus borealis is endemic to Scotland.
Where It Lives
You can find the northern prongwort only in the Beinn Eighe nature reserve in Scotland. It grows in a type of habitat called "dwarf shrub heath." Imagine a place with small, bushy plants that don't grow very tall. That's where this liverwort likes to live.
It often shares its home with other large liverworts. Some of its plant neighbors include Anastrophyllum donnianum, Bazzania tricrenata, and Pleurozia purpurea. These plants all enjoy the same kind of damp, cool environment.
Its Discovery
The northern prongwort was officially named and described in 1970. This was done by a botanist named Alan Crundwell. Scientists study plants to understand where they live and how they are related to each other.
Similar Species
There is another liverwort that looks very much like Herbertus borealis. This related species was discovered later, in 2012. It is called Herbertus norenus and is known as the "Viking prongwort."
The Viking prongwort is found in Shetland (islands north of Scotland) and Norway. For a long time, scientists thought the Viking prongwort was the same as the northern prongwort. But after more study, they realized they were two different, but closely related, species.
