Frullania franciscana
Marchantiophyta
Frullania franciscana (XXXXXX)
San Francisco Scalewort
XXXXXX
frequent
Distinguishing Features
Uncommon and cryptic, this small (<1mm wide) green-to-purple Frullania is most likely to be found along very moist shorelines, where it creeps over the rocks and dwarf sitka spruce branches of coastal headlands. Confident identification requires close inspection of the leaves, which have a unique linear arrangement of microscopic darkened leaf cells called "ocelli".
Similar species
See notes under Frullania californica.
Habitat
Tree trunks (esp. alder, spruce), branches, rock outcrops, and cliffs along the shoreline in the lowland zone; infrequent in coastal BC.
Associated species