Species Distribution of Liverworts in Mt. Kalatungan, Pangantucan, Bukidnon

INTRODUCTION Bryophytes are non-vascular plants, small green, simple, spore bearing and unique among plants in having relatively large, photosynthetic, and free living haploid gametophytes, and unbranched diploid sporophytes that remain attached to the maternal gametophyte throughout their life span, thus, it is heteromorphic in their life cycle (Azuelo et al, 2012). There are about 24,000 bryophyte species worldwide. One division is a Hepatophyta or the liverworts which are tiny land plants and there are approximately 8,500 species worldwide. These plants are easily overlooked because of their small sizes, yet play a very important role in the ecosystem. It is widely distributed, occurring from the arctic to the tropics. Some grow in relatively dry places and most occur where moisture is generally available, such as on damp soil or moist rotting logs, along shaded stream banks, on rocks in streams, or on wet rock outcroppings; a few even grow under saline conditions. The leafy and thalloid liverworts are the two groups of taxonomic characters. Furthermore, liverworts generally grow in consistently moist habitats, occupying niches where competition with vascular plants is minimal. Spray zones of waterfalls or wetlands such as bogs, fens, and streams seeps, are often rich in hepatics. Shaded old-growth forests also support liverwort growth, particularly in mesic or even hydric habitats. Thalloid liverworts grow on consistently damp rock faces or in wetlands. Other species may grow in shaded crevices and among mosses in more xeric conditions. Liverworts also may colonize moist or submerged rocks (Scapania nemorosa, Porella pinnata), grow under water (Ricciocarpus fluitans), found on logs and humic soil in mesic forests (Nowellia curvifloria, Bazzania trilobata) and grows on tree bark (Frullania eboracensis). Different forest associations favor a variety of liverwort assemblages (Schuster, 2000) Several

References: * Azuelo, et.al. 2011.Asian Journal of Biodiversity. Volume 2                             ** Boom,1996:67                             *** http://.arkat-usa.org/get-file/18667/