Plagiochila porelloides
Marchantiophyta
Plagiochila porelloides (Plagiochilaceae)
Lesser Featherwort
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Frequent
Distinguishing Features
On account of its large size (leafy shoots can be >5 mm wide and longer than 5 cm), prominent teeth on large, deep green leaves bearing a conspicuous basal pleat, the common Plagiochila porelloides is perhaps the most moss-like of our regional liverworts, growing as it often does in relatively large clumps. Close inspection should show a stem devoid of underleaves and hairs, with large unlobed and asymmetrical lateral leaves alternating along the stem, their bases of attachment running down along the length of the stem ("decurrent, see photo). The leaves are often wide-spreading and the teeth are quite variable in number and size.
Similar species
Habitat
Moist to mesic humus, rock outcrops, boulders, cliffs, cutbanks, decayed wood, tree bases, and streambanks in the lowland and montane zones
Associated species
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