Guide to Liverworts of Oregon:Scapania obscura (Arn. & Jens.) Schiffn.

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Synonym: None.

Special Status: ORBIC List 2.

Recognition: Small, dark plants growing in flowing water. Very similar to blackish forms of Gymnocolea inflata, from which it differs in the fewer, larger oilbodies. This has 2-5 oil bodies per cell, only slightly larger than (about 1.5 X) the chloroplasts.

Distribution: Grows on stones in small, coldwater streams. In Oregon known only from the Three Sisters Wilderness; generally scarce across northern North America.

Comments: To be looked for along the margins of cold mountain springs. The loosely folded lobes and dark color makes this look very much like Gymnocolea inflata. Gymnocolea has minute underleaves which are inconspicuous but detectable by careful examination, and more equal and less folded leaves. The most similar Scapania is S. subalpina, a larger plant that also has subequal lobes. It has a border of thick walled cells and lacks the dark pigmentation of S. obscura, and sometimes has dentate leaf margins while S. obscura always has entire margins.

Scapania obscura, shoot. Three Sisters Wilderness, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW 3507.


Scapania obscura, shoot.Three Sisters Wilderness, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW 3507.


Scapania obscura, shoot, ventral aspect. Three Sisters Wilderness, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW 3507.


Scapania obscura, leaf, ventral aspect. Three Sisters Wilderness, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW 3507.


Scapania obscura, leaf, ventral aspect. Three Sisters Wilderness, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW 3507.


Scapania obscura, leaf, ventral aspect. Three Sisters Wilderness, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW 3507.


Scapania obscura, leaf, dorsal aspect. Three Sisters Wilderness, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW 3507.


Scapania obscura, leaf, ventral aspect. Three Sisters Wilderness, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW 3507.


Scapania obscura, leaf, dorsal aspect. Three Sisters Wilderness, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW 3507.


Scapania obscura, leaf, ventral aspect. Three Sisters Wilderness, Lane Co., Oregon. DHW 3507.


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