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A Liverwort - Calypogeia integristipula
Other Names:
Calypogeia meylanii
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General Description
GROWTH FORM : LeafyPLANTS : A Leaf liverwort that forms flat patches or mats, is mostly prostrate with leafy shoots to 3 cm long and 1.5 to 3.0 mm wide. Plants are dull green (pale green, yellowish green, or grayish green) and rather opaque. Rhizoids are dense. UPPER-LEAVES : Usually overlap like shingles (imbricate). Each leaf is normally longer than wide, about 1.3 to 1.75 mm long, narrowly ovate with a narrowly rounded and entire apex. The margins are composed of isodiametric cells that may be interrupted by rectangular (elongated) cells and therefore do not form a distinct border.UNDER-LEAVES : Distant to imbricate, appressed and somewhat convex, and 2-3 times wider than stem, 1.0 x 0.8 mm, and suborbicular or reniform in shape. Their apex is entire or retuse (shallowly notched at apex). Marginal cells do not form a distinct border. Leaf bases are not or slightly decurrent. The rhizoid initial area at the base of the underleaf is prominent.
Phenology
Sporophytes are rare, and when present are found from April to June.
Diagnostic Characteristics
Calypgeia neesiana and Calypogeia integristipula can be separated by their size and leaves. Calypgeia neesiana plants are usually smaller and brighter green than Calypogeia integristipula . Calypogeia neesiana leaves have a marginal row of shining, rectangular cells. The rhizoid initial zones of Calypogeia neesiana are smaller and less distinct than those of Calypogeia integristipula .
Range Comments
Widespread and evidently Holarctic. In North America: Idaho, Alaska, Alberta, British Columbia, California, Oregon, Montana, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, Colorado, Michigan, Wisconsin, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon Territory. In Europe: Britain, Scotland, rare in Ireland, north and central Europe south to Italy and Spain, and Greenland. In Asia: Japan and Siberia.
Habitat
Across its distribution, plants are found on soil and rotting wood and at elevations ranging from near sea level to 7,200 feet. It is known to occur on mineral substrates (clay and loam as well as rock) and organic substrates (peat and decaying logs). Soderstrom (1993) studied bryophyte preference in old spruce forests in Sweden and found that Calypogeia integristipula grew most often on boulders, a little less often on tree bases, wood litter, and stumps, and least often on rotten logs. He found it grew on other substrates as well.
Reproductive Characteristics
Asexual reproduction is by gemmae. Gemmae are commonly found and produced on upright, reduced-leaved shoots.
References
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