SPECIES FACT SHEET
Common Name: Sharp ladderwort, rounded rustwort (Edwards 2003)
Scientific Name: Marsupella sparsifolia (Lindb.) Dum.
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: Gymnomitriaceae
Technical Description: "Shoots long, erect, frequently bearing numerous
subinvolucral innovations. Leaves on sterile shoots of uniform size, distant,
spreading, transverse, Concave to slightly channeled, broad, roundedly ovateobovate, bilobed to ¼ [of length of leaf], sinus mostly rectangular or acuteangled, loves ovate-triangular, somewhat concave, mostly acute. Marginal cells
12–14 µm, in the center of the leaf about 20 µm, smaller than in the lobes,
about 13µm, walls thin, trigones small. Oil-bodies small, several in each cell.
Plants paroicous, fertile shoots clavate, leaves increasing in size towards the
top, female bracts connate in the lower ½. Perianth exceeding the bracts for ¾
its length." (Arnell 1981)
Distinctive Characters: Small, blackish plants with two rows of transversely
inserted, bilobed leaves, restricted to upper montane habitats. Sinus relatively
deep.
Similar species: Marsupella sphacelata is the most common species most
likely to be confused with M. sparsifolia. It is also small and blackish and has
a sinus as deep as M. sparsifolia. However, M. sphacelata has leaf lobes that
are almost always round at the apex while leaf lobes in M. sparsifolia are
usually obtuse to acute. Marsupella sphacelata is dioicous while Marsupella
sparsifolia is paroicous.
Life History: Formal studies of life history traits in this particular species have
not been located. This species is perennial, visible whenever the substrate is
exposed. These are plants of high elevations where snow lies late, generally
above 5000'/1500 m, and have a short growing season that coincides with late
summer and fall. Since this species is bisexual (paroicous), healthy populations
can be expected to produce sporophytes.
Range, Distribution, and Abundance: Widespread in polar and alpine regions,
Northern Europe and northern North America and also South Africa and New
Zealand. Rare in the Pacific Northwest, south to Mt. Hood in Oregon and
possibly California.
Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center lists the species as occurring only
in Hood River County in Oregon.
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Reported from King County (Hong 1980) and Clallam County (Hong et al. 1989)
Washington. Reported also from Madera County, California (Hong 1982) but
this record has not been verified (Doyle and Stotler 2006).
BLM: No documented sites, none expected.
USFS: Documented on Mt. Hood National Forest. Suspected in the
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, Deschutes and Willamette
National Forests, Oregon. Possibly expected in all national forests with
alpine (or remnant alpine) habitats in Washington and Oregon.
Habitat Associations: "In shiny pure patches, greenish, mostly with purplishbrown or blackish secondary pigmentation, sometimes as single plants among
other bryophytes on occasionally flooded sand, sandy soil along streams or on
acidic soil in late snow areas. Also found on siliceous cliffs, rocks and stones
which at times get irrigated (Damsholt 2002)." Strictly montane in the Pacific
Northwest.
Threats: The sites where this species has been found are relatively remote and
without obvious, immediate threats beyond those implicit in rarity or proximity
to trails, campsites or other mountain recreational developments.
Conservation Considerations: Revisit known sites and precisely map so that
possible fluctuations in population levels can be monitored and phenology
observed. Route trails away from such sites; camping or other recreational
activities should be discouraged in the vicinity. Subalpine regions of northern
Oregon Cascades have been little explored for liverworts and such work could
well be encouraged by defraying expenses of volunteers.
Conservation Rankings and Status:
Global: G3G4; Oregon: S1
ORNHIC List 3
Washington: Not ranked
USFS Strategic Species in Oregon
Other pertinent information:
Surveys and Survey Protocol: Hands and knees search of moist, open ground
in subalpine and alpine regions.
Key to Identification of the Species: Christy and Wagner 1996; Doyle and
Stotler 2006; Paton 1999; Schuster 1974.
Preparer: David H. Wagner
Edited by: Rob Huff
Date Completed: October, 2008
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Updated in May 2009 by Candace Fallon (Update added Attachment 1, Photos,
to the Species Fact Sheet).
ATTACHMENTS:
(1)
Photos
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.
Damsholt, K. 2002. Illustrated Flora of Nordic Liverworts and Hornworts.
Nordic Bryological Society, Lund, Sweden.
Doyle, W. T. & R.E. Stotler. 2006. Contributions toward a bryoflora of
California III. Keys and annotated species catalogue for liverworts and
hornworts. Madroño 53: 89-197.
Hong. W.S. 1980. Hepaticae of the North Cascades Range, Washington. The
Bryologist 83: 94–102.
Hong, W.S., K. Flander, D. Stockton, and D. Trexler. 1989. An annotated
checklist of the liverworts and hornworts of Olympic national Park,
Washington. Evansia 6: 33–53.
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. 100 pp.
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.
Schuster, R.M. 1974. The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America.
Volume 3. 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 WA
Shoot WA
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