Guide to Liverworts of Oregon: Pellia neesiana (Gott.) Limpr.
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Pellia 1b involucre short > Pellia 2a unisexual > Pellia neesiana
Synonym: Pellia columbiana Krajina & Brayshaw
Special Status: None.
Recognition: Succulent, fleshy, forking thalli with sex organs on separate plants. Pellia endiviifolia shares these traits but lacks thickenings on interior cell walls which are found in P. neesiana. Pellia endiviifolia also has slime papillae three to four cells long vs. two cells in P. neesiana.
Distribution: Mainly on tightly packed soil or peaty soil next to streams and trails; widespread and frequent at lower elevations in western Oregon.
Comments: Our most common species of the genus, it is especially common along the margins of small streams in the coast range. This species is not separable from P. epiphylla when sterile.
Godfrey (1977) mentioned that Proskauer (1962) synonymized Pellia columbiana with P. neesiana when thickened cell walls were found in the type specimen. It is not that for thickened cell walls not to be detectable in the interior cells so it is a good clue but not a reliable character for keying. Schofield (2002) does not recognize Pellia columbiana. Although Stütz, Quandt, and Nebel (2016) recognize Pellia columbiana as distinct, a position followed by Stotler and Crandall-Stotler (2017), Stütz et al. did not provide convincing morphological evidence and no specimens wereincluded their flawed DNA study.
Pellia neesiana, Lincoln County, Oregon.
Pellia neesiana, mature sporophyte; Cape Creek, Lincoln County, Oregon. 13 April 2013.
Pellia Neesiana Kodiak Island, Alaska. Leslie Foy May, 2017.
Pellia neesiana, longitudinal section through involucre with shriveled, unfertilized archegonia; Sutton Beach, Lane County, Oregon. DHW m2414g.
Pellia neesiana, Cross section through thallus; Harris Rest Area, Curry County, Oregon. DHW m2393.
Pellia neesiana, male thallus with antheridia visible below ostioles; Charleston, Coos County, Oregon.
Pellia neesiana, underside; Marys Peak, Benton County, Oregon. DHW m2443.
Pellia neesiana, slime papillae, 40X; Deschutes County, Oregon. DHW m2700.
Pellia neesiana, slime papillae, 40X; Deschutes County, Oregon. DHW m2700.
Pellia neesiana, slime papillae, stained, 10X; Deschutes County, Oregon. DHW m2700.