i work at a nursery in Ohio (but not a plant expert at all) and have noticed this lichen-like (in terms of form) stuff growing over the soil in the pots of various different kinds of plants in our perennial greenhouse. its “leaves” are relatively thick and have these bizarre cup-like spots, like tiny suction cups. any thoughts?
by SunbeamedNines
7 Comments
i believe it is lichen
Liverworts (*Marchantiophyta*). They are a group of non-vascular plants that are kinda sorta related to mosses but is not a moss in the strict sense… They can grow vigorously and smother young seedlings so watch out!
The little cups you see spread spores, it’s how it asexually reproduces. If you let it grow enough, it will shoot out gametophyte stalks which is out it sexually reproduces. A fossil of a plant
Can be a serious menace in a production setting. Gotta clear it out
I think it’s a patch… a a sour patch.. with kids.
that is so cool i want one
Compare with Marchantia polymorpha.
It’s a liverwort, a non-vascular seedless plant related to mosses. The cups, called gemmae, produce asexual spores, which can germinate and grow into new thalli (the term for the flat green ribbon-like structures you see.) Sometimes you’ll see small stalks arising from the thalli; these produce male or female gametes for sexual reproduction. This particular liverwort is in the genus Marchantia.