SPECIES FACT SHEET
Common Name: Bearded pawwort (Edwards 2003)
Scientific Name: Barbilophozia barbata (Schmid. ex Schreb.) Loeske
Division: Marchantiophyta (incorrectly called Hepatophyta in U.S. government
taxon databases (e.g., ITIS 2008); see Stotler and Crandall-Stotler 2008)
Class: Jungermanniopsida
Order: Jungermanniales
Family: Jungermanniaceae
Taxonomic note: In some works this is treated as Lophozia barbata (Schmid.
ex Schreb.) Dum.
Technical Description: "Dark green to brown, 2-6 cm long, 2.5 - 3.5 mm wide,
with numerous rhizoids. Leaves rather distant, oblique inserted, uniform in
size, horizontally spreading from the stem, sometimes directed somewhat
forward, almost quadrate-triangular, divided to 0.2 in 4 lobes, with wide,
usually obtuse and gibbous incisions, lobes usually obtuse or obtusely pointed,
almost equally large or the two middle lobes somewhat larger. Cells in the
middle of the lobes about 27 µm, with thin walls but rather large trigones;
marginal cells 18-21 µm. Oil-bodies about 10 per cell, spherical, homogeneous,
2-4 µm. Underleaves small or absent, when present, small, narrow, entire or
bilobed. Female bracts somewhat longer than the leaves, somewhat more
deeply incised, incisions gibbous and lobes frequently pointed. Perianth longly
exserted, ovoid-cylindrical, constricted at the mouth and multiplicate, at the
margin with numerous, mostly 2-celled teeth. Gemmae rare, 3-6 angled,
reddish yellow." (Arnell 1981, with slight modification.)
Distinctive Characters: This species is characterized by consistent presence
of three to four equally lobed leaves, a character of Barbilophozia.
Similar species: Barbilophozia barbata lacks the cilia at the base of the leaves
and prominent underleaves which are present on the other two species of the
genus (Barbilophozia hatcheri and B. lycopodioides). Also, the lobes of B.
barbata are simply triangular rather than rounded-mucronate and they are
plane rather than cupped or channeled. The tip of the lobes are obtuse and
lack points. Barbilophozia hatcheri usually has numerous gemmae, B.
lycopodioides is much bigger (Paton 1999; Schuster 1969).
Life History: This species is perennial, visible whenever the substrate is
exposed. Published studies of life history traits in this particular species have
not been located. Most perennial liverworts have an active growing season that
matches the rainy season of low elevations: October through May. Plants like
this species, which grow at high elevations where snow lies late, generally
above 1500 m (5000 ft), may have a short growing season that coincides with
late summer and fall.
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Range, Distribution, and Abundance: Widespread around the northern
hemisphere in boreal and montane regions. In Oregon found only on Saddle
Mountain, Clatsop County, its southernmost station in western North America.
BLM: None suspected or documented.
USFS: Suspected on Mt. Hood and Siuslaw National Forests and the
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The species may also
possibly occur on high elevation sites on the Willamette, Deschutes, and
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest.
Habitat Associations: Terrestrial on peaty substrates over rock, usually
growing with mosses or other liverworts.
Threats: Threats from human activity are not obvious beyond overcollecting or
trail building. The single known Oregon site is in a state park, not likely to be
subject to habitat disturbance activities.
Conservation Considerations: If populations are located on federal lands,
monitor the sites and manage to prevent damage to the habitat.
Conservation Rankings and Status:
Global: G4G5; Oregon: S1
ORNHIC List 3
Washington: not ranked
USFS Strategic species in Oregon
Other pertinent information:
Surveys and Survey Protocol: Focus on peaty soil at high elevations.
Key to Identification of the Species: Christy and Wagner 1996; Hong and
Matthews 2001.
Preparer: David H. Wagner
Edited by: Rob Huff
Date Completed: October, 2008
Updated in May 2009 by Candace Fallon (Update added Attachment 1, Photos,
to the Species Fact Sheet).
ATTACHMENTS:
(1)
Photos
2
References:
Arnell, S. 1981. Illustrated Moss Flora of Fennoscandia. I. Hepaticae.
2nd. Edition. Swedish Natural Science Research Council.
Christy, J.A. & D.H. Wagner. 1996. Guide for the identification of rare,
threatened or sensitive bryophytes in the range of the northern spotted
owl, western Washington, western Oregon and northwestern California.
USDI Bureau of Land Management, Oregon-Washington State Office,
Portland. 222 pp.
Edwards, S.R. 2003. English Names for British Bryophytes. Third Edition.
British Bryological Society Special Volume No. 5.
Hong, W.S. and W. Matthews. 2001. Barbilophozia in western North America.
Lindbergia 26: 134–142.
ITIS. 2008. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (official government
database of scientific names) http://www.itis.gov/index.html
Accessed August 2008.
Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center. 2007. Rare, threatened and
endangered species of Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Information
Center, Oregon State University. Portland.
http://oregonstate.edu/ornhic/2007_t&e_book.pdf
Paton, J.A. 1999. The liverwort flora of the British Isles. Harley Books,
Colchester, U.K. 626 pp.
Schuster, R.M. 1969. The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America.
Volume 2. Columbia University Press, New York.
Stotler, R.E. and B. Crandall-Stotler. 2008. Correct author citations for some
upper rank names of liverworts (Marchantiophyta). Taxon 57: 289-292.
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Attachment 1 – Photos
All photos by Dr. David Wagner, under contract with the Oregon/Washington Bureau of Land
Management.
Shoot dorsal
Shoot ventral
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Side view
Small shoot
5
Leaf
Underleaf
6
Midleaf
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