Thing with Slug by Chipka
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
When I moved to Berwyn, no one told me that I’d come into contact with someone belonging to a species I’ve never encountered before. I’m assuming this is a lichen of sorts, but I have yet to perform the necessary research. It’s rather large and unusually succulent, and may be a faux-lichen for all I know. At any rate, it has cups. Oh, and there's a garden slug hiding in there too! I didn't notice the charming gastropod until after I'd loaded this photo off of my camera.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting and I hope you're all having a great week.

Comments (2)
It's a lovely capture of a thalloid liverwort, probably a species of Marchantia. The little cups are part of an asexual reproductive system known as splash cups. In them are gemmae "spores" which are spewed out when a raindrop lands in the cup. Liverworts are not at all related to lichens but are a sister group to bryophytes (mosses).
Thank you for the info! LIverworts in Berwyn, Illinois? Who knew?!
Very cool capture!