Porella platyphylla

Porella platyphylla
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1] (Europe regional assessment)
Secure  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Marchantiophyta
Class:	Jungermanniopsida
Order:	Porellales
Family:	Porellaceae
Genus:	Porella
Species:	P. platyphylla
Binomial name
Porella platyphylla (L.) Pfeiff.
Synonyms[3]
List Jungermannia platyphylla L. Antoiria vulgaris Raddi Cavendishia platyphylla (L.) Gray Lejeunea platyphylla (L.) Corda Madotheca platyphylla (L.) Dumort. Porella platyphylla var. major Lindb. Bellincinia platyphylla (L.) Kuntze Madotheca jackii Schiffn. Porella jackii (Schiffn.) C.E.O.Jensen Madotheca platyphylla f. convexifolia Papp Madotheca platyphylla var. laxa Papp Porella platyphylla var. subsquarrosa Arnell Jungermannia platyphylla var. intermedia Grognot Jungermannia platyphylla var. major Hook. Antoiria vulgaris var. minor Raddi Cavendishia platyphylla var. major Gray Madotheca navicularis f. distans Nees Madotheca platyphylla f. applanata Nees Madotheca platyphylla f. attenuata Nees Madotheca platyphylla f. communis Nees Madotheca platyphylla f. convexula-attenuata Nees Madotheca platyphylla f. depauperata Bernet Madotheca platyphylla f. intermedia (Grognot) Roum. Madotheca platyphylla f. major (Hook.) Nees Madotheca platyphylla f. paradoxa Nees Madotheca platyphylla var. porelloides Bernet Madotheca platyphylla f. reptans Nees Madotheca platyphylla f. squarrosa Nees Madotheca platyphylla f. subsquarrosa (Arnell) Schiffn. Madotheca platyphylla f. umbrosa Schiffn. Jungermannia platyphylla var. major Wahlenb. Madotheca platyphylla f. convexula Nees Madotheca platyphylla f. applanata Nees Madotheca navicularis var. distans (Nees) Debat Madotheca platyphylla var. communis (Nees) Debat Madotheca platyphylla var. major (Hook.) Dumort. Madotheca platyphylla var. subsquarrosa Bernet Madotheca platyphylla var. subsquarrosa Schiffn. Porella platyphylla var. major (Hook.) Cooke Porella platyphylla var. subsquarrosa (Schiffn.) Damsh. Porella platyphylla var. major-convexula Pearson Porella platyphylla var. vulgaris Lindb. Cavendishia platyphylla var. platyphylla Jungermannia platyphylla var. platyphylla Madotheca platyphylla f. platyphylla Madotheca platyphylla subsp. platyphylla Madotheca platyphylla var. platyphylla Porella platyphylla subsp. platyphylla

Porella platyphylla is a species of liverwort belonging to the family Porellaceae. It has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across Eurasia and North America,^[4] where it typically grows on tree bark and rocks in areas with adequate rainfall. The species is most common in regions receiving at least 600 millimetres of annual precipitation. The species forms part of a complex taxonomic group that includes several closely related species and hybrids, with populations showing distinct genetic differences between continents despite their morphological similarity.

The species is characterised by its obtuse-rounded leaf lobes with flat margins, and irregular teeth at the perianth mouth when mature. It reproduces both sexually, with separate male and female plants, and asexually through leaf fragments. P. platyphylla is known for its ability to survive long periods of desiccation, being able to recover normal photosynthetic function within hours of rehydration. The species produces unique chemical compounds, including pinguisane sesquiterpenoids and sacculatane diterpenoids, which help distinguish it from related species. Recent molecular studies have revealed significant genetic variation within the species, particularly in European populations, though this variation is not always reflected in physical characteristics.