Schistochilopsis incisa

Schistochilopsis incisa
Phylum: Marchantiophyta
Family: Scapaniaceae
Common NameJagged Notchwort
FrequencyFrequent
© John Reynolds
© John Reynolds
© Connor Wardrop

Distinguishing Features

Schistochilopsis incisa is an ambient and unmistakeable species found across most elevations and habitats in our region, especially decaying wood and organic matter, where is presents as tightly-overlapping, waxy whitish-green shoots up to 2 cm long and 2.5 mm wide bearing very toothy and succulent leaves. Up close, the leaves have a maple-like shape with major lobes and teeth demarcated by minor lobes and teeth. The development, size and number of the teeth seems to vary depending on habitat, with nearly toothless forms occuring at high elevations and often treated as Schistochilopsis opacifolia or S. incisa subsp. opacifolia.

Similar species

No other species of leafy liverwort is green, lobed, toothed and succulent. Species of Barbilophozia can be lobed with teeth on the lobe tips, but none in between as in Schistochilopsis incisa, nor are the leaves in Barbilophozia succulent. Fossombronia species have lettuce-like leaves but they are thin and lack the spines of S. incisa.

Habitat

Moist, shady decayed wood, humus, rock outcrops, boulders, cliffs, cutbanks, seepage sites, bogs, snowbed sites, heath, and tundra in the lowland, montane, subalpine, and alpine zones

Associated species

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Distribution Map

Relevant Literature