Scapania uliginosa
Marchantiophyta
Scapania uliginosa (Scapaniaceae)
Marsh Earwort
Big arch Scapania
Infrequent
Distinguishing Features
A species of wetland and bog floors, S. uliginosa forms wide, horizontally spreading shoots (to 4 mm x 3+ cm long) that vary from green to purple hues based on exposure. Upclose, the predominantly toothless, uneven lobes of the leaf and closely pressed together and converge at their base along a characteristically arched keel. It should be noted that the bottom of the lower leaf lobe attaches down along the length of the stem in this species ("decurrent", see photo), while the upper lobe does not.
Similar species
The large round arch (see photo) of the keel distinguishes it from all other species of Scapania with the exception of S. paludicola, a species of boreal wetlands. In that species, however, the bottom leaf lobes are not decurrent.
Habitat
Wet mineral soil, rock outcrops, boulders, cliffs, seepage sites, springs, streambanks, fens, and waterfall spray zones in the lowland, montane, subalpine, and alpine zones
Associated species
Herbertus aduncus, Moerckia sp., Pellia neesiana, Polytrichum sp., Sphagnum sp.