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Family LEPIDOZIACEAE

Common name

LITTLE HANDS LIVERWORT

Microhabitat

This species is abundant along Tatlow trail, often forming loose mats with other mosses and liverworts. We found it growing on veteran cedars, decaying branches and gravelly soil in moist, shady areas.

Distribution

L. reptans is widespread throughout the northern hemisphere, except in the Arctic, Iceland, and Greenland. It has been described in many western and eastern European countries as well as in western North America, including Alaska, Yukon, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Alberta, Montana, Idaho, New Mexico, Saskatchewan, Wyoming, Colorado, and the Northwest Territories.

L. reptans is often found on decaying wood.
Photo Credit: Yan Zhuang

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Morphology

The leaves of this leafy liverwort are pale to dark green (or sometimes yellowish or brownish green), and overlapping. Underleaves are present, and all leaves are deeply divided into segments. The plants are typically 2-5 cm in length, and the shoots are about 1 mm wide. The plants are regularly pinnate (resembling a telephone pole with foot stakes). Sporophytes are not common.

Key identifying features

The most obvious defining feature of L. reptans is that the tiny leaves have 3-4 lobes, which look something like little hands. You will need a hand lens to see this feature of L. reptans. This leaf structure is similar to some Bazzania species, but these species generally have much larger leaves than L. reptans. Tetralophozia, Chandonanthus, and Blepharostoma also have finger-like leaves, but are never pinnately branched. L. reptans is typically found on decaying plant matter, including wood, or peaty soil. There is a preference for shady, humid, moist, and acidic (pH 2-3) environments. It is often found with Bazzania denudata and Dicranum fuscescens.

Interesting notes

Lepidozia reptans comes from the Greek Lepido, which means scaly, and reptans, which means creeping. Thus, Lepidozia reptans is named after its scaly-looking branches and prostrate habit. This species was first described by Dumortier in 1865.

Selected References

Pojar, J., and MacKinnon, A. 2004. Plants of Coastal British Columbia, including Oregon, Washington and Alaska (revised edition). Lone Pine Publishing, Vancouver, Canada.

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.

Stern, W.T. 1983. Botanical Latin (New Edition). David & Charles Inc., USA.

By Jacqueline Monaghan

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