Nardia scalaris
Marchantiophyta
Nardia scalaris (Gymnomitriaceae)
Ladder Flapwort
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Frequent
Distinguishing Features
The most common and variable member of the genus, N. scalaris presents as a reliably green mat-forming species with prostrate shoots typically to 3 cm long and roughly 2 mm wide. The lateral leaves are unlobed, broadly elliptical and attached at there base across the axis of the stem, while the underleaves are simple and elongate and should be visible with a hand lens. This is a dioicous species and its leaf cells under the microscope have 2 or more oil bodies and substantially-thickened walls "trigones" at their junctions.
Similar species
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Habitat
Moist to wet, often shady mineral soil, rock outcrops, cliffs, ledges, crevices, boulders, streambanks, shorelines, waterfall spray zones, and disturbed areas in the lowland, montane, subalpine, and alpine zones
Associated species
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