Scapania simmonsii

Phylum: Marchantiophyta

Family: Scapaniaceae

Genus: Scapania

Scientific Name: Scapania simmonsii Bryhn & Kaal.

Common Name	Simmons' Earwort
Frequency	Rare

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

Image Gallery

Distinguishing Features

Known regionally from only a few locations in the mountains and tundra of BC and Alaska, S. simmonsii is a a rare, brownish species with leafy shoots to 5 cm long and 3 mm wide. It is unique among species in the genus in having leaves with nearly equal lobes that converge at a round keel while the lobe margins diverge both away from one another and downwards along their free edges (see photo). Both upper and lower lobes are about as wide as they are long.

Similar species

Only a few regional species of Scapania (S. subalpina, S. hians, S. obscura) have upper and lower leaf lobes of similar size as in S. simmonsii, but none of them have lobe margins that turn down as in S. simmonsii.

Habitat

Calcareous soil in tundra

Associated species

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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.