Scapania umbrosa
Marchantiophyta
Scapania umbrosa (Scapaniaceae)
Shady Earwort
Tiny Toothy Triangular Log Scapania
Frequent
Distinguishing Features
Scapania umbrosa is ambient but easy to overlook on the fallen moist conifer logs it calls home. Growing in dense tufts of tiny green shoots (~1.5 mm wide by <1 cm long), the unequal leaf lobes both have a rounded-triangular shape and large teeth, with the upper lobe often pointing up in the direction of the stem axis. This species is frequently peppered with bright red asexual spores ("gemmae") at the shoot tips.
Similar species
This species could be mistaken for a young Scapania bolanderi. That species, however, is much larger (shoots to 3cm+ long) and its leaves lack the triangular aspect and dense red gemmae of S. umbrosa.
Habitat
Decayed wood, humus, rock outcrops, boulders, cliffs, and streambanks in the lowland, montane, and subalpine zones
Associated species
Cephalozia bicuspidata, Fuscocephaloziopsis sp., Lepidozia reptans, Riccardia sp., Scapania bolanderi.