Guide to Liverworts of Oregon: Fossombronia pusilla (L.) Nees
HOME SPECIES INDEX GENUS INDEX GLOSSARY
Fossombronia 1b seta long > Fossombronia 2b lamellae widely spaced on spores > Fossombronia 3a lamellae high > Fossombronia pusilla
Synonym: None.
Special Status: None.
Recognition: The light green plants with ruffly leaves and purple rhizoids characterize this genus. Similar species of Lophozia do not have purple rhizoids or, if rhizoids are red the underside of the stem is likewise red. Telling the species apart is done by spores, as in the keys. This is the species with relatively tall, widely spaced lamellae.
Distribution: On seasonally moist soil; in part shade to full exposure; in both disturbed habitats as roadcuts and trail cuts and also in natural habitats in open sites; widespread at lower elevations in western Oregon.
Comments: This species was misrepresented in past versions of the Guide to Liverworts of Oregon; almost every Fossombronia with a long seta was called F. longiseta.
Fossombronia pusilla, Goodman Creek, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW m1783.
Fossombronia pusilla, Los Gatos, San Jose Co., California. DHW field photo.
Fossombronia pusilla, Gillespie Butte, Eugene, Lane Co. Oregon. DHW m3184.
Spencer Butte, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW
m1519
S. Santiam River, Linn Co., Oregon. DHW m1308.
archegonium: Goodman Creek, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW m1783.
Ferris Gulch, Jackson Co., Oregon. DHW 9114a.
Cow Creek Canyon, Douglas Co., Oregon. DHW 6848.
Elater measurements: left= 165, 170, 180, 212, 215 µm;
right = 170, 190, 215, 215, 220 µm. Cow Creek Canyon, Douglas Co., Oregon. DHW 6848.
Elater 195 µm. Gillespie Butte, Eugene, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW m3184.
Elaters 150 µm and 170 µm. Gillespie Butte, Eugene, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW m3130.
Elaters 190 µm and 175 µm. South Santiam River, Linn Co., Oregon. DHW m1329.
Millicoma River, Coos Co., Oregon. DHW
m1561d
Wangontire Rock, Monterey Co., California. DHW 1235. Mixed collection. L = F. longiseta; R = F. pusilla.
Distal aspect. Calif., Tehama Co., Round Valley Rd., Doyle 6312 (UC).
Proximal aspect. Calif., Tehama Co., Round Valley Rd., Doyle 6312 (UC).
Lateral aspect. Calif., Tehama Co., Round Valley Rd., Doyle 6312 (UC).