Description - A minute liverwort, about 2mm wide with opposite, entire leaves that bend upward.

Habitat - In spots around the coast that are damp in winter. In the picture the Gongylanthus is found in the little wet depression at the bottom left.

Comments - It is a Mediterranean-Atlantic species whose distribution reaches as far as the Channel Islands, the Scillies and the Lizard. It is very rare in Manche and found in W and S Brittany southwards. Its distribution is similar to that of Romulea columnae, Sand Crocus, found in all the islands, in Dawlish Warren and one place in Cornwall; Ophioglossum lusitanicum, Least Adder's Tongue, Guernsey and one spot in the Scillies; Isoetes histrix, Land Quillwort, Guernsey, Alderney and the Lizard. Neither of the last two are in Manche but all are in Brittany.

Only female plants have been found in the Channel Islands so it probably only reproduces vegetatively. Like other Mediterranean species it grows in winter. It passes the summer as dormant buds.