Leiomitra julacea facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leiomitra julacea |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Division: | |
| Class: |
Jungermanniopsida
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| Order: |
Jungermanniales
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| Family: |
Trichocoleaceae
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| Genus: |
Leiomitra
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| Species: |
L. julacea
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| Binomial name | |
| Leiomitra julacea Hatcher ex J.J. Engel
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| Synonyms | |
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Leiomitra julacea is a special type of small plant called a liverwort. It is found only in New Zealand, which means it is endemic to that country. This unique liverwort is known to grow on Stewart Island and in the southern part of the West Coast Region on the South Island. It likes to live on rocky areas, usually about 130 meters (around 426 feet) above sea level.
About Leiomitra julacea
Leiomitra julacea is a very interesting plant. It feels spongy and looks like a tangled mass of tiny, hair-like threads. This liverwort is a creeping plant, meaning it spreads out along surfaces.
What it Looks Like
This plant has a distinct chocolate brown color. Its tiny stems, called shoots, are very narrow, only about 2 millimeters wide. That's smaller than a grain of rice! The leaves spread out wide, but their tips curve sharply back towards the end of the shoot. Each leaf has a main part, called the disc, which is made up of 5 to 6 cells high.
How it's Different from Other Liverworts
There is only one other species of Leiomitra found in New Zealand, called L. lanata. You can tell the difference because L. lanata is usually yellow-green. Also, its leaf disc is a bit taller, made of 6 to 10 cells high.
