Calycularia laxa

Phylum: Marchantiophyta

Family: Calyculariaceae

Genus: Calycularia

Scientific Name: Calycularia laxa Lindb. & Arnell

Frequency

Rare

Image Gallery Distinguishing Features Similar Species Habitats Associated Species Distribution Map Relevant Literature

Image Gallery

Distinguishing Features

Seemingly restricted to timberline and tundra-like habitats, the rare Calycularia laxa is a a frilly light-green simple thalloid liverwort that forms horizontal patches with upturned margins that can grow to more than 5 cm long and up to 5 mm wide. Male and female plants are seperate, but on both, the upper surface is adorned with small toothy scales and the lower surface is subtended by purple-pink scales (see photo), which are unique to this species among simple thalloid liverworts of this region.

Similar species

Aneura, Blasia, Pellia, Apopellia and Moerckia can all mimic the size and shape of C. laxa, but none of those taxa bear the characteristic pink-purple scales on the underside of the thallus.

Habitat

Associated species

Distribution Map

Relevant Literature

Godfrey, J.D. (1977). Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of southwestern British Columbia . [Doctoral dissertation, University of British Columbia]. UBC cIRcle.
Hong, W. S. (2007). Scapania. In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (Eds.), Flora of North America North of Mexico (Vol. 3) . Oxford University Press.
Wagner, D. H. (2013). Guide to the liverworts of Oregon: Scapania undulata . Oregon State University Herbarium.