Ptilidium californicum

Taxobox
name = Pacific Fuzzwort
status = G3
status_system = TNC
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Marchantiophyta
classis = Jungermanniopsida
ordo = Jungermanniales
familia = Ptilidiaceae
genus = "Ptilidium"
species = "P. californicum"
binomial = "Ptilidium californicum"
binomial_authority = (Austin) PearsonPacific fuzzwort ("Ptilidium californicum"), is a rare liverwort of the Western U.S.

Technical description

Plants dioicous, small but medium-sized for a liverwort, from golden-green to golden, but more typically reddish-brown, or dilute purplish-red, or coppery red, resembling a dense fuzzy mat, occurring in small or large patches. Shoots less than 1½ mm wide. Leaves incubous (decurrent on the dorsal stem surface), deeply bilobed; each lobe divided 1-3 times, elongated, narrowly lanceolate, deeply divided; lobe margins entire, with 1 or 2 long, slender, cilia-like projections along the lobes margins and at lobe apices; leaves so closely overlapping that only a mass of ciliate projections is visible under a hand lens. Underleaves prominent, wider than the stem but about or less than half the size of the leaves, 2-3 clefted, margins ciliate (even more finely divided into slender projections). Perianths plicate and narrowed to a ciliate mouth; frequent. Sporophytes abundant from May to August.cite book
last = Christy
first = John A.
coauthors = David H. Wagner
year = 1996
chapter = "V"
title = 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: A Cooperative Project of the Eugene District, USDI Bureau of Land Management; Siuslaw National Forest, USDA Forest Service; The Nature Conservancy; and the Northwest Botanical Institute.
pages = 47] cite journal
author = Doyle, William T.
coauthors = Raymond E. Stotler
year = 2006
title = Contributions toward a Bryoflora of California III: Keys and Annotated Species Catalogue for Liverworts and Hornworts.
journal = Madroño
volume = 53
issue = 2
pages = 178
doi = 10.3120/0024-9637(2006)53 [89:CTABOC] 2.0.CO;2
doilabel = 10.3120/0024-9637(2006)53[89:CTABOC]2.0.CO;2] cite book
last = Schofield
first = W.B.
year = 2002
title = Field Guide to the Liverwort Genera of Pacific North America
Publisher = University of Washington Press
pages = 181] cite book
year = 1997
title = Survey and Manage: Survey Strategy 2 Protocol for "Ptilidium californicum" (Aust.) Underw. Version 2.0
publisher = BLM Information Bulletin No. OR-98-051]

Distribution, habitat, and ecology

In the past, this plant has been reported from Russia and Japan, but recent literature calls it an endemic of the west coast of North America, ranging from south-eastern Alaska to northern California.

This plant has a narrow environmental specificity: it is found in (and serves as an indicator species of) old-growth forest. It is typically epiphytic on bark at the base of standing mature to old-growth trees ("Abies concolor", "A. magnifica", and "Pseudotsuga menziesii") or recently fallen logs; rarely on other organic substrates such as decaying logs and stumps, or humus covering boulders. At the southern end of its range (Oregon and California) this species is distinctly restricted to middle elevation forests. Its elevational range is from 1,275 ft. to 5,725 ft.cite journal
author = Botting, Rachel S.
coauthors = Arthur L. Fredeen
year = 2006
title = Contrasting Terrestrial Lichen, Liverwort, and Moss Diversity between Old-Growth and Young Second-Growth Forest on Two Soil Textures in Central British Columbia
journal = Canadian Journal of Botany
volume = 84
pages = 124–129
doi = 10.1139/b05-146]

The fire ecology of this plant is not known; however, fires in old-growth habitat might negatively affect "P. californicum" because of smoke, or from excessively opening the canopy. Severe fires that destroy old-growth trees would likely extirpate populations.

Conservation status and threats

U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region Sensitive Species.

NatureServe California State Rank: S3; Global Rank: G4

The survival of "Ptilidium californicum" in the southern end of its range (i.e., northern California) depends upon the protection of the known sites as dispersal sources. The major threat facing "P. californicum" is loss of populations due to management activities that directly or indirectly impact the habitat or populations by disrupting stand conditions necessary for its survival. These include treatments such as: removal of colonized substrate, stand treatments that result in changes in microclimatic conditions or forest structure, or harvest of special forest products that may include individuals of this taxon. Spray paint used to mark 'leave,' 'take,' and 'wildlife' trees within project areas severely impact on this species. Liverwort diversity and abundance are strongly affected by forest age, and both components are much greater in old-growth forests. Therefore, the loss of old-growth habitats poses another threat to this species.

Field identification

The leaves with many lobes divided into slender cilia make this species unmistakable. Once seen, never forgotten.

References

External links

* [http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/index.htm NatureServe Web Page]