Marsupella sparsifolia

Marsupella sparsifolia
Phylum: Marchantiophyta
Family: Gymnomitriaceae
Genus: Marsupella
Common NameRounded Rustwort
FrequencyInfrequent

Distinguishing Features

A dark green to scorched infrequent species of montane to arctic habitats, Marsupella sparsifolia forms mats of nearly erect, short shoots up to one centimeter tall and roughly one millimeter wide. The neatly-arranged divergent leaves are wider than the stem, bilobed with round lobes, acute sinus and plane margins. This species is reliably fertile, and antheridia can be found cupped in leaves below the enlarged shoot tips where the developing archegonia and/or sporophytes may be found (“Paroicous”).

Similar species

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Habitat

Moist to wet rock outcrops, cliffs, ledges, crevices, and boulders in the lowland, montane, and subalpine zones

Associated species

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Distribution Map

Relevant Literature