Lophocolea semiteres
southern crestwort
Cooler Southern Hemisphere (Australia, New Zealand, southern South America)
Overview
Lophocolea semiteres is an evergreen leafy liverwort that forms low, spreading mats of translucent pale-green shoots, each shoot 0.04-0.08 inch (1-2 mm) wide and creeping 0.4-2 inches (1-5 cm) over the surface. The rounded leaves are arranged in two overlapping ranks along prostrate stems, with smaller divided underleaves on the lower side. Mats reach only about 0.2-0.4 inch (5-10 mm) deep but can spread to cover large patches of damp ground, rotting wood, lawn, or container soil. As a bryophyte it has no true roots, flowers, or seeds, anchoring by thread-like rhizoids and reproducing by spores and by detachable gemmae. It needs constant moisture and shade; the mats shrivel and brown in dry or sunny conditions and revive when moisture returns. Growth is rapid in cool, humid weather.
Native Range
Native to the cooler parts of the Southern Hemisphere, including southeastern Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, and southern South America. Grows on damp soil, rotting logs, and in lawns and shaded gardens; it has naturalized in parts of Britain and northwestern Europe.Suggested Uses
Grown in shaded, moist settings such as terrariums, around pot bases, and on damp rockwork or logs where a low green carpet is wanted. It can colonize bare shaded soil between pavers. In lawns and nursery containers it is often treated as a weed because it spreads over the surface.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height1" - 1"
Width/Spread1' - 3'
Reaches mature size in approximately 1 years
Bloom Information
Liverworts do not flower. Spore capsules form on short translucent stalks in cool, moist weather, mainly autumn through spring. The plant also spreads by gemmae and by fragmentation of the mat.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
pale greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Tolerates up to 3 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
Care & Maintenance
Care Guide
Grows in shade to part shade on constantly moist soil, wood, or damp gravel. The mat needs steady moisture and high humidity; it browns and shrinks in dry air or direct sun and recovers when rewetted. It establishes on bare, compacted, or acidic ground where other plants struggle. In lawns and pots it can spread over the surface and compete with seedlings. No fertilizer is needed, as it takes up moisture and nutrients directly through its surface.Pruning
No pruning is needed. Excess mat can be lifted or scraped away by hand where it spreads onto unwanted surfaces. Pieces that are removed can re-root and form new colonies if left on damp ground.Container Growing
✓ Suitable for container growing
Minimum container size: 1 gallons