Gymnomitrion corallioides
| Common Name | Coral Frostwort |
| Frequency | Infrequent |
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Distinguishing Features
One of the few liverworts to truly match its common name, G. coralloides presents as a lawn of densely compressed, pale whitish-green, rounded shoots to 2 cm tall by 2.5 mm wide not unlike a colony of tightly-packed corals in high elevation or high latitude areas. The leaves have two equal, rounded lobes and are tightly overlapping (“imbricate”). For confident identification, you should expect the shoots to be compressed, not round.
Similar species
The only other white-hued liverworts in the region belong to the genus Anthelia, which is an order of magnitude smaller. While A. julacea and A. juratzkana can occur in similair alpine environments and show tightly overlapping leaves, the leaves are deeply divided (more than 2/3rd their length) compare to species of Gymnomitrion, which are typically divided to about 1/3rd their length. See table for comparison to other regional species of Gymnomitrion.
Habitat
Dry to moist cliffs, rock outcrops, ledges, crevices, boulders, and tundra in the montane, subalpine, and alpine zones
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.