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Bazzania denudata (Torrey ex Gott. et al.) Trev. | |
Family LEPIDOZIACEAE Microhabitat Our sample was collected on a cedar stump in a sunny clearing. The reported microhabitats of this species include tree bases or rocks, in sheltered and moist areas. Distribution This liverwort is distributed throughout North America and Japan. On the Pacific coast of North America it is found mainly near the coast, but in some places its range extends into subalpine areas. |
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typical habitat: a tree stump 
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Morphology It generally forms dense mats with shoots that are only 1-2.5 cm long, and about 1.5 mm wide. It is sparingly branched with an evenly forked pattern. The lateral leaves are neatly overlapping and curl towards the substrate with toothed tips (generally 3 teeth are present, but there could be fewer depending on environmental conditions). The underleaves of B. denudata are conspicuous and also curl towards the substrate with toothed tips. Sporophytes are borne on short white setae and have a chocolate brown capsule. Key identifying features This is a really cute little liverwort. If you find a liverwort species forming prostrate mats on stumps, tree bases or rocks it is quite likely B. denudata. However, to distinguish it from the few other species that also share this characteristic, you will have to examine a little closer. A branching pattern that resembles a Y (i.e. forked) is the next identifying characteristic. If you look closely and see that anterior part of many branches are bare and lacking leaves, you can be pretty sure that you have B. denudata. To be absolutely sure, you would want to take out your hand lens and examine the leaves. If the lateral leaves have a toothed edge, and the underleaves are obvious and toothed at the apex you can confidently label your specimen as B. denudata. Two other species can be difficult to distinguish from B. denudata without a microscope, but luckily we did not find any along Tatlow trail to cause you confusion. If you are walking elsewhere and want to be sure that you really have B. denudata, then you will need a microscope and will have to start counting oil bodies from a fresh sample. If your specimen has 6-12 oil bodies per cell, then it is B. denudata, if it has fewer, then you might have either B. tricrenata, or B. nudicaulis. In some areas, this species could also be confused with B. trilobata. However, B. trilobata reaches larger sizes than B. denudata. Interesting notes The genus name of this species honours an Italian anatomy professor while the specific epithet has a Latin derivation. Denudata means “naked or denuded” and refers to the fact that the branches of this liverwort are often missing leaves. These caducous leaves can grow into new liverworts, so they act as vegetative propagules or gemmae. The genus Bazzania was first described in 1821 by S. F. Gray, and B. denudata was described shortly after in 1838. B. denudata has had many name changes since that time, including its genus, but has kept its current name since 1957. Selected References Djan-Chekar,
N. 1993. The bryophyte flora of Bridal Falls, British Columbia:
an analysis of its composition and diversity. M.Sc. thesis, Department
of Botany, University of British Columbia. Schofield, W.B. 2002. Field Guide to Liverwort Genera of Pacific North America. University of Washington Press, Seattle. Schuster, R.M. 1969. Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America, Vol II. Columbia University Press, New York and London. By Sharon Jeffery Home >> Species List >> Bazzania denudata © 2006 Department of Botany, University of British Columbia |
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