Guide to Liverworts of Oregon: Key to SCAPANIA 1
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HOME > 1b plants leafy > 3b leaves not divided, not ciliate > 6a oil bodies 2+ or unknown > 7a bilobed, small dorsal lobe > 8b lobes obtuse to round > 9a leaves round or oblong > Scapania
The common lowland species (Scapania americana, Scapania bolanderi, and Scapania undulata) are distinguishable by habitat with remarkable consistency. On trees and logs the most common species is Scapania bolanderi; Scapania americana is restricted to rocks or soil; and Scapania undulata is found in seeps or streams, on any substrate. There are two rare species from Oregon and Washington which are not well incorporated into the genus keys presented here. Scapania obscura is keyed with S. subalpina and separated only under the discussion of that species. Scapania scandica would be keyed to S. irrigua or S. mucronata for which a discussion for separation is being developed.
When examining plants for decurrent leaves, use upper leaves of robust individuals for best interpretation. It is important to remember that "dorsal" means the upper side of the shoot and "ventral" the lower. The dorsal lobe is the smaller one and the ventral lobe is the larger lobe.
Yosemite Park, California. M. Hutten.
1a One large, brown, plate-like oil body per cell (rare)
Scapania gymnostomophila
Scapania undulata, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW 7626.
1b Oil bodies several in most cells, these granular, clear to pale brownish; sexuality various
(Couplet 2)
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Copyright 2006 Northwest Botanical Institute