The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Riccardia intercellula

Common Name(s)

Liverwort

Current Conservation Status

2009 - Threatened - Nationally Critical

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Previous Conservation Status

2004 - Threatened - Nationally Critical

Qualifiers

2009 - DP, OL

Authority

Riccardia intercellula E.A.Brown

Family

Aneuraceae

Flora Category

Non Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Liverwort

Synonyms

None (first described in 1989)

Distribution

Endemic. South Island, Glasgow Range

Features

Monoicous. Thallus pale green, flaccid, creeping 7-10 mm long, 691-860 microns wide with rounded apices. Growth indeterminate, branching alternate to subopposite with simple pinnate development except where a side branch shows continued development. Mucilage papillae dorsal and ventral 100-200 x 16-25 microns, persisting on both surfaces. Rhizoids present on the ventral surface, stolons and gemmae not observed. Axis plano-convex with an acute unwinged margin., thallus 147-163 microns thick; cell walls thin to very slightly thickened and cells of the ventral epidermis and 1-2 underlying layers of less depth than those overlying them. Thalli epidermal cell walls lightly rugose. Dorsal epidermal cells hexagonally elongate, 102 x 25 microns, and 21 microns deep. Ventral epidermal cells all similar 77 x 18 microns, and 21 microns deep. Dorsal subepidermal cells all similar 122 x 34 microns. Ventral subepidermal cells all similar 103 x 26 microns. Internal cells 38 microns deep. Oil-bodies 1-2 brown, granular and ellipsoidal oil-bodies per cell, 13 x 8 microns, common in young growth, less frequent in older. Endophytic mycorrhizae 3-5 microns wide, present in interstices of the 2-3 layers of smaller ventral cells. Male and female branches alternating. Male branches solitary or branched, mostly arising from the main axis, sessile, bearing 1-3 pairs of antheridia. Female branches solitary, positioned like male, with 2-3 pairs of archegonia. Calyptra little known. Sporophyte unknown.

Fruiting

Although fruit has been seen insufficient information exists to provide any details on the timing of fruiting

Threats

Known only from the type gathering. Exact threats not clear but evidently a very uncommon plant.

Endemic Taxon

Yes

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 20 Oct 2014