SPECIES FACT SHEET
Common Name: Alpine waterwort
Scientific Name: Chiloscyphus gemmiparus
Division: Marchantiophyta (incorrectly called Hepatophyta in U.S.
government taxon databases (e.g., ITIS 2008); see Stotler and CrandallStotler 2008)
Class: Jungermanniopsida
Order: Jungermanniales
Family: Jungermanniaceae (Wagner 2010, unpublished)
Taxonomic Note: Chiloscyphus gemmiparus was described by Evans
(1938) and accepted by Frye and Clark (1943), Flowers (1961), and
Christy and Wagner (1996). It has been largely ignored by other workers.
Schuster (1980) made passing mention of C. gemmiparus and called it
"poorly known." Hong (1993) claimed he could not locate the type
specimen and therefore did not offer treatment. Doyle and Stotler (2006)
did not treat the species although Christy and Wagner (1996) reported it
from California. Following discovery of reproductive structures in Lane
County, Oregon, it is clear this species is not properly placed in
Chiloscyphus and will be transferred to a new genus (Wagner 2010,
unpublished).
Technical Description: Plants leafy, yellow-brown to dark greasy-green
in life, drying blackish, 5-6 mm wide to 1.5 cm long. Shoots prostrate or
erect, each with a different morphology: (1) prostrate shoots usually
closely appressed to substrate, attached by numerous rhizoids; leaves
attached obliquely, overlapping only slightly; underleaves tiny or absent;
sex organs absent; (2) erect shoots not closely appressed to substrate,
generally lacking rhizoids; leaves attached nearly transversely;
underleaves usually present, large, especially near the tip of fertile shoots
and often poorly differentiated from lateral leaves (isophyllous); sex
organs present. Leaves on both types of shoots obovate, widest above the
middle, emarginate to deeply notched at apex, the leaves appearing
shallowly bilobed when notched. Gemmae composed of 2-5 cells at
maturity are produced in masses along the edge of leaves at shoot tips.
Typical fertile shoots are bisexual, the antheridia in bracts immediately
below the archegonial tip (paroecious). Unfertilized shoots often produce
small, adventitious male shoots. Perianths oblong, closed at the mouth,
with five longitudinal furrows or pleats, forming only out of water in the
splash zone, after fertilization. Distinctive characters: An aquatic leafy
liverwort on rocks in cold, fast moving water, and (2) the only aquatic
leafy liverwort in our area with abundant gemmae, the shoots invariably
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showing evidence of gemmae production that is evident with a hand lens.
Similar species: Jungermannia exsertifolia, very similar and common in
upper elevation streams, has (1) uniformly ovate leaves with rounded
tips, evident with a hand lens, (2) no underleaves, and (3) no gemmae.
Other descriptions and illustrations: Frye and Clark 1943: 249;
Flowers 1961: 63; Schuster 1980: 245, 259; Christy and Wagner 1996:
V-12.
Life History: Details for Chiloscyphus gemmiparus are not documented.
In leafy liverworts, the protonema is reduced and short-lived. Capsules
are also short-lived, produced on delicate transparent stems that
collapse after the capsules open, usually within a week of maturity.
Capsules have been observed only in early fall. Aquatic liverworts do not
produce capsules underwater.
Range, Distribution, and Abundance: Only six localities are known
worldwide: four in Oregon and one each in Alaska and Utah. A reports
from California has been verified. The three known populations in
Oregon all occur in designated wilderness areas.
National Forests: documented on the Deschutes, Rogue River-Siskiyou,
and Willamette forests. Suspected on the Fremont-Winema. The
Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, and the Mt. Hood and
Umpqua National Forests consider this species suspected. BLM Districts:
Klamath Falls Resource Area of the Lakeview BLM District, Medford and
the Eugene BLM Districts consider this species as potentially suspected.
Rare but probably undercollected because montane streams have not
been well surveyed for aquatic liverworts.
Habitat Associations: Forming small turfs or clumps on rocks in beds of
cold montane streams, submerged or emergent in the splash zone, full
shade to partial sun. Some streams drain lakes with motorized boating
access. Elevations in Oregon range from 5000-7000 feet. Known sites in
the Pacific Northwest include Abies amabilis, Abies lasiocarpa, and Tsuga
mertensiana associations.
The cryptogamic flora of cold mountain streams is relatively rich but the
ecological reasons for this remain poorly known. Long-term habitat
stability seems likely to be an important factor.
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Threats: Logging, construction of roads and recreation trails, and
overcollecting are potential threats to Chiloscyphus gemmiparus.
Currently known occurrences in Oregon are probably at low risk because
of their location at higher elevations in or near designated wilderness
areas.
Conservation Considerations: Riparian buffer prescriptions will help
retain canopy cover, cool water temperatures, and clean water needed to
maintain viability of Chiloscyphus gemmiparus. Routing of recreational
trails away from streams will help reduce sediments entering waterways.
Conservation rankings: Global: G1Q; National: N1. Oregon: S1, List 1;
California: SNR; Alaska: SNR; Utah: SNR. Not reported from Washington.
Preparer: John A. Christy.
Date Completed: June 2006. Revised May 2007 with edits from Rob Huff and Russ
Holmes.
Revised March 2009 by Rob Huff. This revision only modifies the suspected and
documented determinations by the field units.
Updated in May 2009 by Candace Fallon (Update added Attachment 1, Photos, to
the Species Fact Sheet).
Revised May 2010 by David Wagner (Scientific name, Taxonomic note, Life
history, Distribution, and Threats revised).
Revised April 2011 by Rob Huff (Updated field unit documented and suspected
status).
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.
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.
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Evans, A. 1938. A new species of Chiloscyphus from Utah. Bryologist 41:
50-57.
Hong, W.S. 1993. The family Geocalycaceae (Hepaticae) in North
America, west of the Hundredth Meridian. Bryologist 96: 592-597.
Flowers, S. 1961. The Hepaticae of Utah. University of Utah Biological
Series 12 (2): 1-89 + figs.
Frye, T.C. & L. Clark. 1943. Hepaticae of North America. Volume 2.
University of Washington Publications in Biology 6: 163-336.
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
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
Shoot showing underleaf
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Oil-bodies
Habitat
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