Frullania franciscana

Frullania franciscana
Phylum: Marchantiophyta
Family: Frullaniaceae
Genus: Frullania
Common NameSan Francisco Scalewort
FrequencyInfrequent

Distinguishing Features

Uncommon and cryptic, this small (<1mm wide) green-to-purple Frullania is most likely to be found along very moist shorelines, where it creeps over the rocks and dwarf sitka spruce branches of coastal headlands. Confident identification requires close inspection of the leaves, which have a unique linear arrangement of microscopic darkened leaf cells called “ocelli”.

Similar species

See notes under Frullania californica.

Habitat

Tree trunks (esp. alder, spruce), branches, rock outcrops, and cliffs along the shoreline in the lowland zone; infrequent in coastal BC.

Associated species

Distribution Map

Relevant Literature