Riccardia multifida sits within the liverwort family Aneuraceae, in the order Metzgeriales and the class Jungermanniopsida, part of the phylum Marchantiophyta within the plant kingdom.
Beyond its taxonomic placement, little further detail about this species is documented here, but its classification places it firmly among the true liverworts, a group of non-vascular plants distinct from both mosses and flowering plants.
Identification and Appearance
No detailed physical description is available for this species beyond its placement in the genus Riccardia, family Aneuraceae. Identification of Riccardia multifida therefore currently relies on taxonomic and molecular data rather than field characters documented here.
Distribution and Habitat
Observation records for Riccardia multifida show a clear seasonal pattern, climbing from a low of 234 records in December to a peak of 1,573 in August. Counts rise steadily through spring, from 448 in January to over 1,000 by June, before reaching their highest levels in July and August and then falling away again through autumn.
These monthly counts come from GBIF occurrence data, which reflect presence observations rather than abundance, population size, or a complete picture of the species' range. The mid-summer peak most likely reflects greater fieldwork and observer activity during warmer months rather than a genuine seasonal increase in the liverwort itself.
Fun Facts
- The genus Riccardia is large, comprising around 260 recognized species as of November 2024, placing Riccardia multifida within one of the more diverse liverwort genera in the family Aneuraceae.
