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Frullania tamarisci

tamarisk scalewort

Frullaniaceae

Oceanic and upland Europe, Macaronesia, and adjacent regions

Deer Resistant Drought Tolerant

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterMedium · drought-tolerant

Overview

Frullania tamarisci, tamarisk scalewort, is a small leafy liverwort that forms flat, closely appressed mats over rock and tree bark, dark olive-green to reddish-brown or almost purplish-black in colour. The much-branched, pinnate shoots are 1-4 inches (3-10 cm) long and only about 0.04 inch (1 mm) wide, giving a regular, feathery outline that recalls a sprig of tamarisk. Each tiny leaf is divided, the lower part forming a helmet- or sac-shaped lobule that can hold water, while small underleaves run along the stem underside. Reddish-brown perianths and spore capsules appear among the shoots when the plant is fertile. It grows on well-lit but humid acidic rocks, boulders, and the bark of trees in oceanic and upland districts with clean, moist air. The dark, often purplish mats turn brittle in drought and revive after rain. It is sensitive to air pollution and to prolonged drying, so it is largely confined to humid, unpolluted habitats.

Native Range

Frullania tamarisci is widespread in the oceanic and upland regions of Europe, including the British Isles, and extends to Macaronesia and parts of North Africa and western Asia. It grows on acidic rock and bark in areas with clean, moist air.

Suggested Uses

Encountered as a wild colonist on humid rock, walls, and bark rather than as a planted species. It contributes to the cover of mosses and liverworts on shaded stonework and mature trees in moist, clean-air districts.

How to Identify

Tamarisk scalewort forms neat, flat, feathery mats on rock and bark, dark olive to reddish-brown or near-black, with regularly pinnate shoots about 0.04 inch (1 mm) wide. Under a lens each leaf shows a helmet-shaped lobule beneath the rounded upper lobe, a feature of the genus Frullania spp.. Rows of small underleaves run along the underside of the stem. Its dark, often purplish colour and tidy tamarisk-like branching separate it from greener mat-forming liverworts and mosses.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height1" - 4"

Colors

Foliage Colors

Fall Foliage Colors

Bloom Information

As a liverwort, F. tamarisci does not flower; it reproduces by spores. When fertile, reddish-brown perianths form on short branches and release spores from small capsules. Fertile material can appear through much of the year in suitably humid conditions.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

dark olive-green to reddish-brown or purplish-black

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

Requires 2-6 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range4.5 - 6.0(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

rocky

Drainageaverage

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Drought Tolerance

Drought tolerant when established

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Frullania tamarisci grows on well-lit but humid acidic rock and tree bark and depends on clean, moist air rather than on soil. It withstands short dry spells by drying to a brittle state and reviving after rain, but prolonged drought or air pollution kills it. It needs no feeding and is not cultivated in the ordinary sense, though it colonises stable, undisturbed surfaces over time. In gardens it appears unbidden on shaded walls, rocks, and old bark in humid districts. Its presence is often taken as a sign of clean air.

Pruning

No pruning or routine care applies. Loose or detached patches can be pressed back onto damp, stable surfaces to re-establish. Overhanging debris can be cleared by hand to keep the mats lit and ventilated.