Abstract
Until recently, fertile colonies of the unisexual Mediterranean liverwort Lunularia cruciata were considered to have a restricted distribution in Britain, due in particular to damaging effects of cold winters. Records of male-expressing plants and sporophytes were almost restricted to southern parts of England and Wales, while female-fertile plants had a somewhat wider range. A different picture has emerged from a more recent survey and, together with findings of other recorders, fertile plants of both genders of L. cruciata have been found in more northerly localities. Sporophytes have also been recorded somewhat more widely, but are likely to be limited by both separation of the sexes and a female-biased sex ratio. The British distribution of fertile plants is compared from records before and after 1990 since when there has been an increase in seasonal and annual temperature. It is suggested that warmer conditions have promoted an increase in fertility. This appears to be the first proposed example of recent climate change influencing bryophyte reproductive biology. Phenological observations in north-west Wales indicated a prolonged and broadly synchronous sequential production of archegonia and antheridia.
Published Version
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