![]() ![]() And her posts and pictures have motivated other bryologists to go out with UV torches to see what they can find! There is active speculation (but no firm conclusions) on what adaptive advantage this fluorescence confers on the liverwort. ![]() Bottom: Using both torches to show how the fluorescent species is a relatively inconspicuous component of the surface of the log, which is dominated by a moss and a larger liverwort, Photos by Will Cairns.Īfter consulting her network of experts from other states and countries it appears that this phenomenon is a recently discovered property of just a few species. Top left: Illuminated by normal torchlight. Andi Cairns, who is a local expert on liverworts organized a dedicated collecting trip with me and Will Cairns as collectors (the most conspicuously fluorescing logs were just out of wheelchair access range for Andi.) Andi has identified the species as Bazzania vittata.Ī rotten log on the H-track. On the H-track, these liverworts can cover entire logs, mostly as an understory plant beneath and between moss and other non-fluorescing liverworts. These small moss-like plants are not normally visible in the dark, but suddenly glow electric blue when illuminated with UV light. The most spectacular is the discovery of brilliant green fluorescent liverworts along the H-track. In the weeks since the inaugural walk in March, there have been a number of unofficial night walks around the village that has uncovered some additional features that can be easily seen along Lennox Cr or the H-track. ![]() The second “Paluma After Dark” night walk is scheduled for this Saturday at 7pm, starting at Potters Park (27 Lennox Cr). ![]()
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