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2026-03-11T06:37:07Z

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{{Short description|Species of liverwort}}
{{Speciesbox
| image =
| status = CR
| status_system = IUCN2.3
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author=Bryophyte Specialist Group |date=2000 |title=''Bazzania bhutanica'' |volume=2000 |article-number=e.T39203A10173489 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2000.RLTS.T39203A10173489.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
| genus = Bazzania
| species = bhutanica
| authority = [[Naofumi Kitagawa|N.Kitag.]] & [[Riclef Grolle|Grolle]]
| synonyms =
}}

'''''Bazzania bhutanica''''' is a species of [[Marchantiophyta|liverwort]] in the family [[Lepidoziaceae]]. It is a [[critically endangered species]] known only from the [[eastern Himalayas]] of [[Bhutan]] and northeast [[India]].

==Taxonomy and history==
''Bazzania bhutanica'' was described by [[Naofumi Kitagawa]] and [[Riclef Grolle]] in 1987 based on a [[type specimen]] collected in 1982 by [[David G. Long]] near [[Samtse]], Bhutan.<ref name=NKRG>{{cite journal |last1=Kitagawa |first1=Naofumi |last2=Grolle |first2=Riclef |year=1986 |title=A new ''Acromastigum''-like species of ''Bazzania'' S. Gray from Bhutan |journal=The Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory |volume=61 |pages=269–272 |language=en, la |doi=10.18968/jhbl.61.0_269 |doi-access=free}}</ref><ref name=FB>{{cite magazine |last1=Long |first1=David G.
|last2=Gurung |first2=Baboo Ram |last3=Pradhan |first3=Rebecca |date=May 2010 |title=The rediscovery and conservation status of ''Bazzania bhutanica'' in Bhutan |journal=Field Bryology |volume=101 |pages=28–33 |url=https://www.britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/FB101_The-rediscovery-and-conservation-status-of-Bazzania-bhutanica-in-Bhutan.pdf |publisher=[[British Bryological Society]]}}</ref> It would be known only from the type locality until 27 years later when, in 2009, plants were located at both the type locality and at a new site near [[Lafeti Khola]], Bhutan.<ref name=FB/> The species was first recorded outside of Bhutan in 2014, when it was discovered in [[West Siang District]], [[Arunachal Pradesh]], India.<ref name=India>{{cite journal |last1=Deo |first1=Siddhartha Singh |last2=Singh |first2=D. K. |year=2014 |title=''Bazzania bhutanica'' (Lepidoziaceae, Marchantiophyta) — a critically endangered liverwort recorded in Indian bryoflora |journal=Lindbergia |volume=37 |issue=2 |pages=42–46 |doi=10.25227/linbg.01049 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat==
[[Endemic]] to the [[tropical]] eastern Himalayas,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Long |first1=D.G. |last2=Grolle |first2=R. |author2-link=Riclef Grolle |year=1990 |title=Hepaticaceae of Bhutan II |journal=The Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory |volume=68 |page=432 |issn=0073-0912 |doi=10.18968/jhbl.68.0_381 |doi-access=free}}</ref> ''Bazzania bhutanica'' is known only from two locations in Bhutan and one location in northeast India.<ref name=FB/><ref name=India/>

In Bhutan, both locations can be found west of the town of Samtse in [[Samtse District]]. The two locations are ecologically similar, both being stream valleys located in degraded [[subtropical]] forests at {{cvt|255-256|m}} [[above sea level]]. Plants at both sites were found growing on [[gravel]]ly, vertical [[rock face]]s above streams and shaded by overhanging shrubs.<ref name=FB/>

In India, ''B. bhutanica'' has only been found growing at once location, an eastern Himalayan [[tropical forest]] at {{cvt|680|m}} above sea level in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. Plants were found growing terrestrially on the [[humus]]-rich soil of the [[forest floor]].<ref name=India/>

==Description==
''Bazzania bhutanica'' is a small liverwort, similar in appearance to ''[[Acromastigum]]'', that grows in thin, loosely interwoven mats.<ref name=NKRG/> The shoots measure {{cvt|15–20|mm}} long and {{cvt|1-2|mm}} wide including the leaves. The fragile leaves may overlap slightly or not at all. The leaves are [[Glossary of leaf morphology#oblong|oblong]]-[[Glossary of leaf morphology#ovate|ovate]] to oblong-[[Glossary of leaf morphology#lanceolate|lanceolate]] in shape and deeply bilobed, forming a "V" shape. Fertile plants have not been described.<ref name=NKRG/><ref name=India/>

==Ecology==
''Bazzania bhutanica'' has been observed as a terrestrial plant growing on the ground and as a [[lithophyte]] growing on rock faces.<ref name=FB/><ref name=India/> In Bhutan it has been observed growing in association with the liverworts ''[[Bazzania tridens]]'' and ''[[Pallavicinia lyellii]]'', ferns of the genus ''[[Hymenophyllum]]'', and mosses of the genus ''[[Fissidens]]''.<ref name=FB/> In India it has been observed growing in association with the liverworts ''[[Bazzania sumbavensis]]'', ''[[Calypogeia arguta]]'', ''[[Frullania apiculata]]'', ''[[Radula obscura]]'', and species of ''[[Jungermannia]]'' and ''[[Pallavicinia]]''.<ref name=India/>

==Conservation status==
''Bazzania bhutanica'' is listed as [[critically endangered]] on the [[International Union for the Conservation of Nature]] [[Red List]] under criteria B1 and B2c, based on its limited distribution and the apparent decline of its habitat.<ref name=IUCN/> In Bhutan, both known locations are threatened by [[deforestation]], [[overgrazing]], and industrial and housing development.<ref name=FB/> In India, [[slash-and-burn agriculture]] may also be a threat.<ref name=India/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q1342408}}

[[Category:Lepidoziaceae]]
[[Category:Flora of Arunachal Pradesh]]
[[Category:Flora of Bhutan]]
[[Category:Endemic flora of East Himalaya]]
[[Category:Critically endangered flora of Asia]]
[[Category:Lithophytes]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1986]]
[[Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot]]

Bazzania bhutanica - Revision history

HGNJanell4801: Started the entry w/ sources - done