Notoscyphus

Scientific name

Notoscyphus Mitt.

Common names

rose moss

Family

Jungermanniaceae

Similar genera

other leafy liverworts (e.g., Jungermannia) and potentially some mosses

Native distribution

tropical Asia and portions of the Southern hemisphere

Species cultivated

Notoscyphus lutescens (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Mitt. is rarely available

Weed status

not weedy

Habit

attached leafy liverwort

Brief description

Liverwort with leafletleaflet:
(n) one of the leaf-like units of a compound leaf
-shaped thallusthallus:
(n) a photosynthetic plant body that is not (or apparently not) differentiated into stems, roots, and leaves
lobes. Non spore-producing generation (gametophytegametophyte:
(n) the gamete-producing haploid phase in the plant life cycle; in some lower vascular plants it is multicellular and independent
) is dominant, forming a mat of yellowish-green stems, sometimes red with age; prostrateprostrate:
(adj) growing closely along the ground
to ascending, branching infrequent; Laterallateral:
(adj) on or pertaining to the side of an organ or structure
leaves nearly horizontal, obliquely inserted, short, oblongoblong:
(adj) two to four times longer than wide, with +/- parallel sides
to ovateovate:
(adj) egg-shaped in outline; generally with the broad end at or near the base
, unlobed or slightly 2-lobed. Rhizoids simple, hyalinehyaline:
(adj) thin and translucent or transparent
, usually in groups at underleaf bases. Underleaves 2-lobed. Spore-producing generation (sporophyte) emersedemersed:
see emergent
. Dispersal by spores and stem fragments.

Natural habitat

shaded, damp soil in partially disturbed ridgetop forests and secondary montane rain forests

Additional comments

Notoscyphus lutescens is a leafy liverwort in a genus comprising five species. It is incorrectly referred to as a moss in the aquarium trade and often misspelled as Notocyphus lutescens.

Both Jungermannia and Notoscyphus are typically yellowish-green in color, but depending on growing conditions Jungermannia can be brown and Notoscyphus can become red with age. The most distinguishing character is the absence of underleaves in Jungermannia and the presence of 2-lobed underleaves in Notoscyphus.