Gymnomitrion obtusum
| Common Name | Blunt frostwort |
| Frequency | Frequent |
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Distinguishing Features
Thriving on vertical rock faces, G. obtusum presents itself in dense tufts of downtrending white, wormy shoots up to 1 mm wide by centimeter(s) long. With a hand lens you should be able to make out individual bilobed leaves tightly overlapping one another on all sides (“imbricate”). The tips of the lobes in this species are rounded, the lobes themselves joining about 1/3 down the length of the leaf in a sinus that is sharply-angled.
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, usually sheltered cliffs, rock faces, ledges, crevices, boulders, and soil (rare) in the lowland, montane, and subalpine 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.