SPECIES FACT SHEET
Common Name: Nubbly daintyribbons, whiskered veilwort
Scientific Name: Metzgeria violacea
Recent synonyms: Metzgeria fruticulosa, Metzgeria temperata (misapplied)
Division: Marchantiophyta (incorrectly called Hepatophyta in U.S.
government taxon databases (e.g., ITIS 2008); see Stotler and CrandallStotler 2008)
Class: Jungermanniopsida
Order: Metzgeriales
Family: Metzgeriaceae
Taxonomic Note: Recent work indicates that most specimens previously
named Metzgeria temperata from Oregon, Washington, and California are
actually Metzgeria violacea (= M. fruticulosa). Metzgeria temperata was
segregated from M. fruticulosa by Kuwahara (1976) and may be present
in the Pacific Northwest but there are currently no confirmed reports.
Historic records of M. temperata from Oregon have not been verified.
Technical Description: Plants thalloid, delicate, translucent yellow
green to green when fresh, often turning bluish or turquoise after several
months of drying; thallus 0.5-1.6 mm wide and 0.4-1.5 cm long,
repeatedly divided into paired lobes (dichotomously branched); branches
tapering to narrowed tips, with recurved margins and conspicuous
midribs (costae); costae of branches usually with 2 rows of cells on dorsal
surface and 2-4 rows on ventral surface, but sometimes 3-6 rows of cells
on both surfaces; hairs (cilia) on branch margins usually single but
sometimes paired; gemmae abundant, multicellular, ovate to rounded,
produced from the margins and costae of branch tips. Sex organs are
produced on the ventral surface of the thallus but sporophytes are rare.
Distinctive characters: (1) thalli translucent yellow green to green when
fresh, turning bluish when dry, (2) dichotomously branched, (3) marginal
hairs mostly single, and (4) rounded, plate-like gemmae produced on
both margins and costae of branch tips. Similar species: Metzgeria
conjugata has (1) thalli turning yellowish or whitish green when dry, (2)
thalli 1.5-3 cm long, (3) branches not tapering toward tips, (4) branch
costae with 2-3 rows of cells on the dorsal surface and 2-5 rows on the
ventral surface, (5) marginal hairs in pairs, and (6) gemmae absent.
Metzgeria temperata has (1) thalli turning yellowish or whitish green
when dry, rarely bluish at branch tips, (2) thalli 1.5-2.5 cm long, (3)
branches tapering toward tips, (4) branch costae with 2-3 rows of cells on
both surfaces, (5) marginal hairs single or occasionally paired, and (6)
gemmae produced from branch margins but not from costae. Other
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descriptions and illustrations: Frye and Clark 1937: 136 [as Metzgeria
furcata var. fruticulosa]; Schuster 1992: 747 [as Metzgeria fruticulosa];
Smith 1990: 306 [as Metzgeria fruticulosa]; Christy and Wagner 1996: V37 [as Metzgeria temperata]; BioImages 2000; Hutten et al. 2001: 77 [as
Metzgeria temperata].
Life History: Details for Metzgeria violacea are not documented. In
thalloid liverworts, the protonema is reduced and short-lived. Capsules
are somewhat longer-lived in thalloid liverworts than in leafy liverworts.
Gemmae are likely the most common means of dispersal in this species.
Range, Distribution, and Abundance: Northwestern and southeastern
North America, Europe, Asia. In the Pacific Northwest, along the coast
from Alaska to northern California, and inland to the North Cascades in
Washington (Hutten 2007). Its distribution is unclear because of longtime confusion with Metzgeria temperata and Metzgeria conjugata.
National Forests: documented on the Siuslaw NF, Olympic National Park
(Hutten et al. 2005), North Cascades National Park (Hutten 2007);
suspected on Olympic and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie Forests because of
proximity to known sites.
BLM Districts: documented on the Coos Bay District.
Eugene and Salem BLM Districts.
Suspected in
Rare, probably more common than previously thought but easily
overlooked as it is often found intermixed with more common and
abundant bryophyte species such as Radula spp., Isothecium
stoloniferum, and Neckera douglasii (south central Oregon coast).
Habitat Associations: Forming mats or mixed with other bryophytes on
trunks of trees and shrubs in coastal rainforest. Rarely on rotting wood
or igneous rocks. Usually in cool, moist riparian areas or shaded northfacing talus slopes and outcrops. On the southern Oregon coast it is
most abundant in wet, tidally influenced boggy areas where it primarily
grows on the lower stems of Rubus spectabilis and on the lower boles of
Alnus rubra. Scarce to locally abundant. Full shaded to partial sun. In
the Pacific Northwest, elevations range from sea level to 1000 feet. Forest
types are Picea sitchensis and Tsuga heterophylla associations.
Threats: Logging, road and recreational trail construction are the
primary threats. Removal of shading canopy trees opens stands to light
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and desiccation that may be detrimental to Metzgeria violacea. Removal
of encroaching shrubs along trails may deplete some populations.
Conservation Considerations: Relocate known populations and survey
for new populations in order to reevaluate its conservation status. Where
known occurrences on shrubs along trails are at risk from periodic trail
maintenance, survey for additional populations nearby.
Conservation rankings: Global: G4; National: NNR. Oregon: S1, List 2.
Washington has not yet compiled a working list of rare liverworts.
Preparer: John A. Christy
Date Completed: June 2006. Revised May 2007 with edits from Rob Huff, Russ
Holmes, and Daphne Stone. Revised March 2009 with edits from Jennie Sperling
and Tim Rodenkirk to include information about a newly discovered site on Coos
Bay BLM. 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 and Life History modified).
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.
Frye, T.C. & L. Clark. 1937. Hepaticae of North America. Volume 1.
University of Washington Publications in Biology 6: 1-162 [as
Metzgeria furcata var. fruticulosa].
Hutten, M. 2007. Personal communication with John Christy.
Hutten, M, K. Hutten & K. Woodward. 2001. 101 common mosses,
liverworts and lichens of the Olympic Peninsula. Government Printing
Office, Washington. 109 pp [as Metzgeria temperata].
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Hutten, M., A. Woodward & K. Hutten. 2005. Inventory of the mosses,
liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of Olympic National Park,
Washington: species list. US Geological Survey, Scientific
Investigations Report 2005-5240. 78 pp [as Metzgeria temperata].
Kuwahara, Y. 1976. Metzgeria temperata, a new holarctic species of
Hepaticae. Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory 40: 217-220.
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. 626 pp.
Schuster, R.M. 1992. The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America.
Volume 5. Columbia University Press, New York. 854 pp.
Smith, A.J.E. 1990. The Liverworts of Britain and Ireland. Cambridge
University Press, Cambridge, U.K. 362 pp [as M. fruticulosa].
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 David Wagner, under contract with the Oregon/Washington Bureau of
Land Management.
Habit
Prostrate thallus
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Gemmiphore tips
Attentuate thallus tips with gemmae
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Gemmae on thallus tips
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