Plagiochila porelloides
| Common Name | Lesser Featherwort |
| Quick & Dirty ID | XXXXXX |
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Distinguishing Features
On account of its large size (leafy shoots can be >5 mm wide and longer than 5 cm), prominent teeth on large, deep green leaves bearing a conspicuous basal pleat, the common Plagiochila porelloides is perhaps the most moss-like of our regional liverworts, growing as it often does in relatively large clumps. Close inspection should show a stem devoid of underleaves and hairs, with large unlobed “and asymmetrical lateral leaves alternating along the stem, their bases of attachment running down along the length of the stem (“decurrent”, see photo). The leaves are often wide-spreading and the teeth are quite variable in number and size.
Similar species
The simple, decurrent leaves with a rounded fold or pleat near the base makes regional species of Plagiochila unlike any other genus. When lacking teeth on its leaves, P. asplenioides can be distinguished easily from the toothy and similair sized (but far more frequent) P. porelloides. When some teeth are developed along the margin, a microscope is needed to distinguish between the two species. Near the base of the leaf, P. porelloides has a cluster of cells that are distinct from the surrounding cells, whereas the cells in the base of the leaf of P. asplenoides are not differentiated. Even this character can be unreliable.
Habitat
Moist to mesic humus, rock outcrops, boulders, cliffs, cutbanks, decayed wood, tree bases, and streambanks in the lowland and montane zones
Associated species
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.