Overview
Conocephalum salebrosum is a large thalloid liverwort, a flat, ribbon-like non-vascular plant that grows in spreading mats rather than producing stems or true leaves. The forked green thallus is 0.4-0.8 inch (1-2 cm) wide and several inches long, with a leathery upper surface marked by polygonal segments, each centered on a pale breathing pore that gives the surface a snakeskin pattern. Crushed tissue releases a spicy, mushroom-like scent. It anchors to the ground by thread-like rhizoids on the underside and has no roots. Reproduction is by spores and by gemmae; in spring, female plants raise umbrella-like stalks bearing spore capsules, while male plants form low disc-shaped receptacles. Native across the Northern Hemisphere, it grows on damp shaded rock, soil banks, and the margins of streams and springs, where humidity stays high. It needs constant moisture and shade and dries out quickly in sun or wind. The thallus is perennial, persisting and branching year-round in mild, humid sites. It tolerates cool temperatures but not prolonged drought. Long confused with Conocephalum conicum, it differs in details of thallus surface and scent. Mats expand slowly at the growing tips and can carpet shaded stone and streamside soil.
Native Range
Native across temperate and boreal regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including North America, Europe, and Asia. It grows on moist, shaded substrates such as rock faces, soil banks, and the edges of streams, seeps, and springs.Suggested Uses
Used in shaded rock gardens, on damp stone and water features, in terrariums, and along the moist margins of ponds and streams. Suited to humid, low-light spots where vascular groundcovers fail to establish.How to Identify
Appearance
Colors
Foliage Colors
Bloom Information
Spore-bearing structures appear in spring. Female plants raise umbrella-like stalks 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) tall carrying spore capsules, while male receptacles sit flat on the thallus. Spores release as the stalks elongate and the capsules split.
Growing Conditions
Sun Requirements
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight
Water & Climate
Water Needs
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grow in deep to part shade with constant humidity and a steadily moist surface; the thallus dries and browns rapidly in sun or wind. It grows on damp rock, mineral soil, or streamside banks and needs no feeding. Cool, shaded, north-facing positions suit it in cultivation. Misting and shelter from drying wind keep mats healthy. It spreads on its own from fragments and gemmae. Temperatures are tolerated from near freezing to warm, provided moisture is steady.Pruning
No pruning is needed. Mats can be lifted and divided to start new patches, and broken thallus fragments root readily on moist ground. Clearing encroaching debris keeps the surface open.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing