Asterella californica

Description

Asterella californica is a liverwort, a type of simple, nonvascular plant, related to mosses. Like mosses, liverworts are restricted to moist habitats. Astrella californica is found widely around CI, but only in well-shaded habitats (such as the shadiest parts of north facing slopes). It is active (green) only in the days or weeks following rainfall. It is dry and inactive most of the year; in this condition is appears as a black crust on the soil surface.