The 2023 State of Nature report revealed a shocking 62% of bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) have decreased since 1970.
Liverworts are tiny, flowerless, mostly spore-producing plants, with flat, often liver-shaped lobes. They cloak our temperate rainforests, and many species also grow unnoticed in our gardens, towns and wall crevices. Some have cell-thin leaves not unlike lettuce, whilst others (thallose liverworts) have green, fleshy plates. They can photosynthesise in low light and grow as epiphytes (on other plants). Most thrive in damp climates and the UK supports a great diversity.
Lacking proper roots, a vascular system and being small, their habitats can be easily lost or damaged. But they provide vital microhabitats for tiny insects. Bryophyte communities act as biological sponges, slowing and absorbing the flow of rain and helping to protect against flash floods. Help them by becoming a liverwort champion – the British Bryological Society has tips on getting started.
