Guide to Liverworts of Oregon: Cephalozia lunulifolia (Dum.) Dum.
HOME SPECIES INDEX GENUS INDEX GLOSSARY
Cephalozia 1b sinus <0.5 of leaf > Cephalozia 7a perianth entire to dentate; cells wider than 25 μm at lobe base > Cephalozia 8a lobe tip cell walls thickened > Cephalozia lunulifolia
Synonym: Fuscocephaloziopsis lunulifolia(Dumort.) Váňa & L. Sõderstr.
Special Status: None.
Recognition: a cephalozia with obliquely inserted leaves that spread rather widely; leaf cells gradually decreasing in size from stem to lobe base. The closest species is C. pleniceps. This species has cells of a similar size but the terminal cells of the lobes have evenly thickened cell walls. The cell wall at the point of the terminal cells in C. lunulifolia is distinctly thickened in most leaves. The leaves are less deccurent in C. lunulifolia than C. pleniceps. Less common than either of these, but with a similar general aspect, is C. connivens, which is characterized by large cells. Measurements of lobe base cells given by Doyle (Doyle and Stotler 2006) are 30-56 µm wide X 41-71 µm long for C. connivens vs. 20-35 µm wide X 25-42 µm long in C. lunulifolia. Having connivent lobes is NOT an adequate distinguishing character; using this as an identifying feature has led to numerous misidentifications.
Grows on moist organic substrates, usually on decaying wood. Distribution: In all parts of the state in forested habitats with moist, decaying logs that never dry out.
Comments: This is the most common species of the genus on a state wide basis; near the coast it shares frequency on decaying logs with C. bicuspidata. Both of these are likely to be found on the cut end of logs, particularly the downhill end. Sotler and Crandall-Stotler (2017) place this species in Fuscocephaloziopsis, a genus that their concept includes most of the traditional Family Cephaloziaceae.
Plants with sporophytes, in situ on cut end of log. Opal Creek, Marion County, Oregon.
N. Myrtle Creek, Douglas Co., Oregon. DHW 8709
Single leaf; note cell wall thickening at point of lobe tip cells. Marys Peak, Benton Co., Oregon. DHW m2460
Single leaf of phenotype with sharp lobe tips. Lincoln Co., Oregon. DHW m3055
Single row of leaves, side view of shoot. Marys Peak, Benton Co., Oregon. DHW m2460
Small shoot. Douglas Co., Oregon. DHW 8709
Lincoln Co., Oregon. DHW m3055
Shoot sector with concave leaves. Lincoln Co., Oregon. DHW m3055
Perianth, stained lightly with toluidine blue. Coos Co., Oregon. DHW s.n.
Young gynoecium, perianth with unicellular teeth at mouth. Lincoln Co., Oregon. DHW m3055
Androecium. Lincoln Co., Oregon. DHW m3055