What is that?!?
That's pretty much what started this post. I found this plant growing in moss by my front step and said to myself "What is that?!?" After a while of trying to describe this in a google search I finally came across liverwort. A vaguely familiar word I had only heard of in terms of natural remedies.
So what exactly is Liverwort?
Its an ancient species that is believed to have fossils dating back as far as 473 million years old with some where around 9000 species living today. They can be found throughout the world especially in tropical region where they thrive on damp rocks or in moist soil. Most can reproduce asexually by gemmae forming in the cups you see in the picture. The gemmae discs are then spread about by rain falling into the cups and splashing the tiny discs out of the cups to form new plants in the surrounding area. They can also be split at the thallus to result in a new plant similar to taking a node from a cactus to reproduce.
What are it's Uses?
From what I've read it is used for a number of ailments including liver conditions and stomach discomfort but the effectiveness is still widely unknown with little to no scientific research backing the claims and some people even reacting negatively when ingested(vomiting & discomfort) or applying it to the skin(blisters & irritation). Since there are 9000+ species of liverworts it maybe that some are beneficial and some maybe harmful. So differentiating them maybe a big factor in using these to treat yourself, also what may help one person does not always work for another, this is true for so many medications as well.
This was a very unique and interesting plant that I felt I needed to share. There is soo many unique plants and animals out there which intrigue me greatly. There is an immense amount we can learn from nature in how it works and apply it to our own lives, its one of the best teachers and sources of information out there so make sure you embrace it! One Love! ✌
