Guide to Liverworts of Oregon: Key to Ptilidium 1
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1b plants leafy > 3a leaves divided 1/2 or more > 4a lobe base laminar > Ptilidium
This genus is easy to recognize in the field by the reddish brown fuzz on the base of trees and on logs. Only Ptilidium californicum is common in Oregon, and common only in the appropriate habitats: mature forests between 3000' and 5000' in the northern Cascades. Ptilidium pulcherrimum has been found in the NE corner of the state. This is one of the genera for which a treatment has been completed for the Bryophyte Flora of North America. The treatment has been posted on their site:
http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/bfna/v3/PtilPtilidium.htm
This has a beautiful illustration of Ptilidium californicum by Patricia Eckel.
Ptilidium californicum, Iron Mountain, Lane County, Oregon. DHW 12/10/91
1a Leaf lobes attenuate, terminating in cilia but with only 1-3 cilia on margins; abundant in Oregon, especially Cascade Range from Douglas County northwards.
Ptilidium californicum
Ptilidium ciliare, Kenai Penin., Alaska. E. Berg s.n.
1b Leaf lobes obtuse to acute, not attenuate, their margins beset with 6-25 cilia; rare or not yet found in Oregon.
(COUPLET 2)