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Sphaerocarpos drewiae facts for kids

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Sphaerocarpos drewiae
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Division:
Class:
Marchantiopsida
Order:
Sphaerocarpales
Family:
Sphaerocarpaceae
Genus:
Sphaerocarpos
Species:
S. drewiae
Binomial name
Sphaerocarpos drewiae
Wigglesw.

Sphaerocarpos drewiae is a tiny plant known as a liverwort. It's often called the bottle liverwort because of its shape. This special plant is only found in California, mainly in San Diego and Riverside Counties.

Liverworts are small, simple plants. They are related to mosses. They don't have true roots, stems, or leaves like bigger plants. Instead, they absorb water and nutrients directly from their surroundings.

Where the Bottle Liverwort Lives

The bottle liverwort likes to grow in shady places. It often lives in a type of habitat called coastal sage scrub. This is a plant community found along the coast of California. It has many shrubs and small trees.

This liverwort often grows near another rare liverwort. Its scientific name is Geothallus tuberosus. They share the same special habitat.

Why This Plant is Important

Sphaerocarpos drewiae is an endemic species. This means it naturally lives in only one specific area. For this plant, that area is California. Finding a plant that only lives in one small part of the world is very special. It shows how unique the plant life in California can be.

Facing Challenges

Sadly, the bottle liverwort is an endangered species. This means it is at risk of disappearing forever. A big problem for this plant is habitat loss. Many of the areas where it grows are close to cities. As cities grow, the natural places where the liverwort lives are shrinking. This makes it harder for the bottle liverwort to survive. Protecting its habitat is very important to help this unique plant.

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