SPECIES FACT SHEET
Common Name: Pacific scissorleaf, Pacific prongwort
Scientific Name: Herbertus dicranus (Tayl.) Trev.
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: Herbertaceae
Taxonomic Note: This species was known in our area as Herbertus sakuraii
until it was synomized under H. dicranus by Hodgetts (2003). The synonymy
presented in Fredericks and Davis (2005b) incorporates also synonyms for H.
aduncus.
Technical Description: "Plants in tall or short, loose or tight turfs of erect to
suberect shoots, also a polsters, 1--20 cm, rusty brown to occasionally
vinaceous or nearly black. Stems unbranched to irregularly or densely
branched. Expecially with flagelliferous postical branches. Leaves
asymmetrically lobed, usually closely imbricate, falcate=second postically,
especially on main shoots, almost transversely inserted, 2--3 times as long as
wide, with lobes ½ or less of leaf length, broadly lanceolate, leaf base on antical
side usually bulging to nearly auriculate, often with marginal downward
pointing teeth and slime papillae, vitta extending ⅔ length of lobes, cuticle
smooth. Specialized asexual reproduction via brittle shoots. Sexual condition
dioicous." (Schofield 2007)
Distinctive characters: The deeply bilobed leaves with similar underleaves
are unmistakable traits for the genus.
Similar species: The only species to be confused with H. dicranus is H.
aduncus. In H. dicranus the leaves are 2-lobed for ½ or less of the leaf length;
in H. aduncus leaves are lobed to 2/3 of the leaf length. In H. dicranus the
leaves are strongly bulging at the base; in H. aduncus leaves do not bulge at
the base. The underleaves of H. dicranus tend to be relatively broader than the
lateral leaves; underleaves of H. aduncus are similar to the lateral leaves.
(Schofield 2007)
Life History: Published studies of life history traits in this species have not
been located. Establishment in favorable microhabitats are most likely
stochastic events, not amenable to statistical prediction.
Range, Distribution, and Abundance: In Oregon known only from Saddle
Mountain, Saddle Mountain State Park, Clatsop County. Listed by Schofield
(2007) as occurring in Washington, without specific locality. There are rumors
about sites in the North Cascades National Park in Washington but there is no
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publically available documentation. Otherwise the species is apparently coastal
up through British Columbia to Alaska in North America; also in Asia and the
Pacific Islands.
ORNHIC documents only the record in Clatsop County.
BLM: Suspected in Salem District.
USFS: Oregon: Suspected in Mt. Hood and Siuslaw National Forests.
Washington: suspected in Olympic National Forest.
Habitat Associations: Grows with mosses and other liverworts.
Threats: Possible threats are trail building and overcollecting. Because the site
where Herbertus dicranus is found in Oregon is a state park threats can be
presumed to be minimal here. Lacking verified sites for Washington State, no
comments can be made regarding potential threats.
Conservation Considerations: See Conservation Assessment (Fredericks and
Davis 2005b).
Conservation Rankings and Status:
Global: G4; Oregon: S1
ORNHIC List 2
Washington: Not ranked
BLM/USFS Strategic Species in Oregon
Other pertinent information:
Surveys and Survey Protocol: Search ridge and mountain tops in Coast
Range and Cascade Mountains.
Key to Identification of the Species: Schofield 2007; Christy & Wagner 1996
(as H. sakuraii ).
Preparer: David H. Wagner
Edited by: Rob Huff
Date Completed: January, 2009
Updated in May 2009 by Candace Fallon (Update added Attachment 1, Photos,
to the Species Fact Sheet).
ATTACHMENTS:
(1)
Photos
2
References
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.
Fredricks, N. and J. Davis. 2005b. Conservation Assessment for Pacific
scissorleaf Herbertus sakuraii (Warnst.) Hattori. Unpublished report prepared
for USDA Forest Service Region 6 and USDI Bureau of Land Management,
Oregon and Washington.
Hodgetts, N.G. 2003. Some synonyms of Herbertus dicranus (Taylor ex
Gottsche et al.) Trevis. Journal of Bryology 25: 138-140.
Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center. 2007. Rare, threatened and
endangered species of Oregon. Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center,
Oregon State University. Portland. 100 pp.
http://oregonstate.edu/ornhic/2007_t&e_book.pdf
Schofield, W.B. 2007. Herbertaceae. Bryophyte Flora of North America,
Provisional Publication. Accessed March 11, 2008.
http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/bfna/V3/HerbHerbertaceae.htm
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.
Leaf
Underleaf
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Shoot tip
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