Bluish Veilwort - Metzgeria violacea
Forms patches of 1 mm wide, yellowish green thalli that end in narrow gemma bearing branches which protrude from the substrate. The gemmae of this species are restricted to the very tip of these branches. Long dry specimens are unique in turning blue, hence its former name. Sporophytes are rare.
Twigs and branches of deciduous trees, especially willow (Salix), but also old elders (Sambucus nigra) and young elms (Ulmus).
All year.
Common.
Uncommon.
Melinda Bell
Grace Dieu, woods
22 February 2021
gemmae on tips of thallus
David Nicholls
Charnwood Lodge
15 February 2014
Melinda Bell
Willesley Wood
25 February 2024
Uta Hamzaoui
Knighton Park
07 February 2016
David Nicholls
Cossington Meadows
25 February 2017
Steve Woodward
Ulverscroft
16 February 2010
sue
Grace Dieu Wood
29 January 2025
David Nicholls
Martinshaw Wood
26 March 2022
Leicestershire & Rutland Map
Enter a town or village to see local records
MAP KEY:
Yellow squares = NBN records (all known data)
Coloured circles = NatureSpot records: 2025+ | 2020-2024 | pre-2020
UK Map
Species profile
- Common names
- Blueish Veilwort
- Species group:
- Mosses & Liverworts
- Kingdom:
- Plantae
- Order:
- Metzgeriales
- Family:
- Metzgeriaceae
- Records on NatureSpot:
- 13
- First record:
- 24/02/2018 (Nicholls, David)
- Last record:
- 27/02/2025 (Bell, Melinda)
Total records by month
% of records within its species group
10km squares with records
The latest images and records displayed below include those awaiting verification checks so we cannot guarantee that every identification is correct. Once accepted, the record displays a green tick.
In the Latest Records section, click on the header to sort A-Z, and again to sort Z-A. Use the header boxes to filter the list.
Latest images
Latest records
Melinda Bell
Willesley Wood
01 January 2023
Melinda Bell
Willesley Wood
01 January 2023
gemmae on branch tips
Melinda Bell
Holly Hayes Wood,Whitwick
15 January 2025
Peter Smith
Coleorton, Rough Park
31 March 2024
