Jungermannia exsertifolia

Jungermannia exsertifolia
Phylum: Marchantiophyta
Genus: Jungermannia
Common NameNone
FrequencyLocally Frequent
© Randal Mindell
iNaturalist
© Randal Mindell
iNaturalist

Distinguishing Features

A large, dark, unlobed leafy liverwort with an aquatic lifestyle, Jungermannia exsertifolia is a frequent presence on banks of subalpine and treeline drainage channels or flushes, where its long, lax shoots (up to 5cm or more) flutter in the current. The leaves are dark green to black and about as wide (up to 2 mm) as they are long. Rhizoids are pale brown or clear and underleaves are lacking. Antheridia and archegonia occur on separate plants (“dioicous”) and the perianth of leaves surrounding the developing archegonia is plicate near its apex.

Similar species

On account of its size and dark pallor, J. exsertifolia is unlikely to be mistaken for any other aquatic liverwort in its subalpine habitat. Species of Nardia and Chiloscyphus can be lax and aquatic in subalpine drainage, but they have underleaves that can be made out with a hand lens. Such underleaves are lacking in J. exsertifolia.

Habitat

Moist to wet rock outcrops, cliffs, ledges, crevices, boulders, bogs, streambanks, and waterfall spray zones, occasionally submerged in flowing water, in the lowland, montane, subalpine, and alpine zones

Associated species

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Distribution Map

Relevant Literature