Guide to Liverworts of Oregon: Metzgeria violacea (Ach.) Dumort.
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Apometzgeria and Metzgeria 1b hairs on margin only > Apometzgeria and Metzgeria 2b attenuate shoots present > Metzgeria violacea
Synonym: Metzgeria fruticulosa (illegitimate); Metzgeria temperata Kuwah. (misapplied to Oregon reports)
Special Status: ORBIC List 4.
Recognition: The thin ribbons with midrib and unistratose wings characterize the genus; the ascending, attenuate branches with abundant gemmae production distinguishes the species. Note that these plants grow on upright stems and the attenuate shoots project horizontally from the surface of the substrate.
Distribution: On hardwood trees and shrubs; coastal strip; rare and easy to overlook.
Comments: I had identified my collections originally as Metzgeria temperata Kuwah., following upon earlier published reports for the region. Bill Doyle has kindly examined my specimens and provided the current name. His rationale for this revision is stated in the key to California liverworts (Doyle and Stotler 2007). The earlier collections reported in the literature, from NW Oregon northwards, should be reviewed. The name Metzgeria fruticulosa has been used for these plants; it is illegitimate (Grolle 2003).
Sweet Creek, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW
m1614
South Slough, Coos Co., Oregon. DHW
m1584
South Slough, Coos Co., Oregon. DHW
m2428. This shows how the ascending, gemmiferous thallus tips stand out from the substrate, the search image needed to find these plants.
Sweet Creek, Lane Co., Oregon. 14 March 2101. This shows how the ascending, gemmiferous thallus tips stand out from the substrate, the search image needed to find these plants.