Guide to Liverworts of Oregon: Diplophyllum obtusifolium (Hook.) Dum.
HOME SPECIES INDEX GENUS INDEX GLOSSARY
Diplophyllum 1b leaves not decurrent > Diplophyllum 2b leaf lobes not vittate > Diplophyllum 3b paroicous; gemmae absent > Diplophyllum obtusifolium
Synonym: None.
Special Status: None.
Recognition: The round, oblong leaf lobes distinguish this genus from Scapania. The lack of a vitta rules out all in Diplophyllum except D. taxifolium. This species never has gemmae while gemmae are frequent in D. taxifolium. If D. taxifolium has no gemmae it is usually fertile and its monoicous inflorescences, in particular the male shoots, are diagnostic. The male bracts of D. taxifolium are quite prominent. However, the male bracts on the paroicous inflorescences of D. obtusifolium are not prominent and can be difficult to demonstrate. These shoots could easily be mistaken for female shoots of Diplophyllum taxifolium. Careful observation is needed to establish the bisexual nature of fertile shoots of D. obtusifolium. Sterile plants may be distinguished by reddish pigmentation that often develops in D. obtusifolium vs. green to brown, but no red, in D. taxifolium; and median cells of ventral lobe up to four times longer than wide in D. obtusifolium vs. median cells in ventral lobe of D. taxifolium no more than twice as long as wide.
Distribution: On mineral soil, rarely other substrates; most common on soil of road cuts and trails in the Coastal Mountains.
Comments: Schuster (1974) describes gemmae from this species. I have never seen gemmae and suspect the plants that Schuster studied are not Diplophyllum obtusifolium. It would be interesting to re-examine those specimens.
Diplophyllum obtusifolium, Vancouver, British Columbia. DHW field photo.
Diplophyllum obtusifolium, toluidine blue stain. Yaquina Head, Lincoln Co., Oregon. DHW m2008.
Diplophyllum obtusifolium, safranin stain. McKenzie River Trail, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW m3136.
Diplophyllum obtusifolium, paroicous shoot, TT Munger Research Natural Area, Skamania Co., Washington. DHW 7819.
Diplophyllum obtusifolium, Yaquina Head, Lincolh Co., Oregon. DHW m2008.
Diplophyllum obtusifolium, Yaquina Head, Lincolh Co., Oregon. DHW m2008.
Diplophyllum obtusifolium, ventral lobe of leaf, TT Munger Research Natural Area, Skamania Co., Washington. DHW 7819.
Diplophyllum obtusifolium, dorsal aspect of leaf, stained with toluidine blue. TT Munger Research Natural Area, Skamania Co., Washington. DHW 7819.