Status: Native
Synonyms:
None
This small thallous liverwort is a xeromorph-- it can withstand extremely harsh conditions and thrives on sand in areas that undergo seasonal flooding. The dark margins (caused by deep purple ventral scales) and marginal cilia are characteristic. Spores in Riccias are produced in capsules that are embedded within the thalli. The spores of Riccia atromarginata are opaque, dark brown to black, and minutely tuberculate. Please click on an image for a larger file.
Riccia atromarginata, photo Karen Blisard, Renée West, & Russ Kleinman, Eddy County, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, September 30, 2017
Riccia atromarginata, 5x macro of thallus, photo Karen Blisard, Renée West, & Russ Kleinman, Eddy County, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, September 30, 2017
Riccia atromarginata, dry appearance, photo Karen Blisard, Renée West, & Russ Kleinman, Eddy County, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, September 30, 2017
Riccia atromarginata, gregarious photo Karen Blisard, Renée West, & Russ Kleinman, Eddy County, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, September 30, 2017
Riccia atromarginata, photomicrograph of marginal cilia, photo Karen Blisard, Renée West, & Russ Kleinman, Eddy County, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, September 30, 2017
Riccia atromarginata, photomicrograph of marginal cilia, photo Karen Blisard, Renée West, & Russ Kleinman, Eddy County, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, September 30, 2017
Riccia atromarginata, photomicrograph of shallowly sulcate thallus, photo Karen Blisard, Renée West, & Russ Kleinman, Eddy County, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, September 30, 2017
Riccia atromarginata, photomicrograph of spore, photo Karen Blisard, Renée West, & Russ Kleinman, Eddy County, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, September 30, 2017
Riccia atromarginata, photomicrograph of spore, photo Karen Blisard, Renée West, & Russ Kleinman, Eddy County, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Slaughter Canyon, September 30, 2017
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