Barbilophozia hatcheri

Barbilophozia hatcheri
Phylum: Marchantiophyta
Family: Scapaniaceae
Genus: Barbilophozia
Common NameHatcher's Pawwort
FrequencyInfrequent
© John Reynolds
iNaturalist
© Braden Judson
iNaturalist
© John Reynolds
iNaturalist
© John Reynolds
iNaturalist
© Connor Wardrop
iNaturalist
© Connor Wardrop
iNaturalist

Distinguishing Features

An occasional species of wet bedrock and streamside boulders, B. hatcheri forms variably erect to prostrate large green 4-lobed leafy shoots up to 5 cm tall and around 2 mm wide. The shoots are typically topped by abundant, densely-arrnaged and bright red clusters of asexual reproductive bodies (“gemmae”) that are quite diagnostic within this genus for our region. The lobes of the lateral leaves have sharp tips and descent to down between 20-40% of the leaf’s length. Underleaves are present, and the bases of the lateral leaves are marked by the presence of “cilia” (see photo).

Similar species

Species of Tritomaria typically have 3 lobes that are not symmetrical and the shoots are reclined. In Barbilophozia hatcheri, leaves are symmetrical with occasionally 3 but predominantly 4 lobes and the shoots are upright. Neoorthocaulis floerkii can have 4 symmetrical lobes, but it also has a prominent underleaf that is absent in B. hatcheri. Within the genus Barbilophozia, there is no other species so reliably laden with red gemmae.

Habitat

Moist to mesic humus, rock outcrops, boulders, decayed wood, streambanks, snowbed sites, heath, and tundra in the montane, subalpine, and alpine zones

Associated species

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Distribution Map

Relevant Literature