Plagiochila asplenioides

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Distinguishing Features

Traditionally treated as the common species in the region, work over the last decades has shown that P. asplenoides is a rare and subtle cousin of P. porelloides. In the field, it has long shoots (up to 10 cm +) bearing yellow to dark green simply leaves that alternate along the stem, puckering into a rounded fold at their base. Importantly, the tips of these leaves are often without teeth and when teeth are present, they are poorly developed. Confident identification requires microscopic examination of the leaf bases, which run down the stem (“decurrent”) and are made up of homogenous cells.

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.

Habitat

Moist to mesic rock outcrops, boulders, cliffs, decayed wood, and tree bases (esp. alder) in the lowland and montane 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.