Sample #5: Marchantia polymorpha, Liverwort

Name: Marchantia polymopha

Common Name: Umbrella Liverwort

Family: Marchantiaceae

Collection Date: September 21, 2016

Habitat:  Located on rocks that were in the banks of river. Samples were growing on rocks and in the soil of the river bank.

Location: South Chagrin Reservation

Description:  Sample had large leaves that contained many conceptacles. Conceptacles did contain some gemmae, and  were extremely large and noticeable to the eye. The thallus also contained a large about of patterning visible to the eye.

Figure 1: Sample of Marchantia polymopha . 

Figure 2: The conceptacles of the organism. It is possible to see some gemmae in this sample. A closer look at the leaves is also available. Here we can see that the leaves have a distinct oval pattern across the surface. 

Key Used:  Field Key. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/bbs/Activities/BBS Field Guide Field Key.pdf

Keying Steps:

 Plant without distinct leaves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thallose liverwort

5a. Thallus with gemmae in very obvious receptacles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

6a. Gemmae visible in open-topped receptacles; no gemmae on thallus tips; upper surface of thallus with raised pores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

7a. Gemmae in cup-shaped receptacles . . . . . . . Marchantia polymorpha                              

Sample #4: Aneura pinguis, Liverwort

Name: Aneura pinguis

Common Name: Greasewort

Family: Aneuraceae

Collection Date: September 15, 2016

Habitat: Located next to a stream, within the stream bank. Shady area with damp soil.

Location:  Nelson Ledges

Description: Leaves are waxy, similar to having a greasy look. Plant's have a small thallus. Individual leave have a midrib; however, it is not well defined. There were also no indication of conceptacles on the organism.

Figure 1: Aneura pignuis sample

Figure 2: Leaf from the liverwort sample. As can be seen, there is a pattern of hexagons across the surface. Each hexagon contains a white spot.

Key Used: Field Key. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/bbs/Activities/BBS Field Guide Field Key.pdf

 Keying Steps:

Plant without distinct leaves….Thallose Liverworts

1b. Thallus without gemmae in receptacles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

8. Upper surface of thallus without such markings and pores . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

11. Plants deep or vivid green; habit various . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

15. Thallus 3 mm wide or more . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

19. Midrib not well-defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

23.Plants vivid mid-green, with a greasy appearance; thalli parallel-sided; margins curved upwards; fertile parts on thallus sides; capsules egg-shaped, held on a colorless seta . . . Aneura pinguis

Specimen #3: Brachythecium salebrosum, Moss

Name: Brachythecium salebrosum

Common Name:  Golden Foxtail Moss

Family:  Brachytheciaceae
Collection Date: September 5, 2016

Habitat: Located in a shady area of grass, growing in soil.

Location: Warren, Ohio

Description:  Moss grows in long strands. Growth is horizontal, and is smaller than 3cm tall.  Color ranges from a golden yellow to a light green. Leaves are small, and have a lance shape, with a noticeable midrib. 

Key Used: McKnight, K. B. (2013). Common mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Figure 1: Golden Foxtail Moss sample

Figure 2: Leaf from Golden Foxtail Moss.  Leaves all have a lance shape, with a midrib going through the body.  The midrib is much more noticible towards the base of the leaf.

Keying  Steps:

Growth Form-Pleurocarp-Lance

1b. Plants creeping or creeping with ascending shoot tips, top of plants rarely more than 3cm above the substrate……7

7b. Plants terrestrial on soil, rocks, trees, or logs, or if submerged then leaves not folded at base to form pocket…. 8

8b. Leaves 2-4 mm long……17

17b.  Older shoots with green, yellow green, golden or brownish green leaves; growing on various substrates; capsules usually bent over on stalks from short side branches….19

19b. Leaf tips long and sharply pointed; long branches not curling like a hook when dry…..20

20b.  Leaves at stem tips straight or curved in various directions…21

21b.  Leaf tips flat, not rolled lengthwise…23

23b.  Leaves crowded, pleated, (especially when dry); capsules stubby macaroni-shaped and gently curved, dark brown…..24

24b. Leaves strongly pleated when dry, less so when wet; capsules 2mm long, inclined to horizontal (both sexes on one plant so frequently with capsules)…. Brachythecium salebrosum

Sample #2: Ceratodon purpureus, Moss

Name: Ceratodon purpureus

Common Name: Purple Moss

Family: Ditrichaceae

Collection Date: September 5, 2016

Habitat: Found on weather treated rooftop in Warren, Ohio. Location generally gets much rain, and is in direct sunlight, when the weather is applicable.

Description:  Small, grows in clumps. Overall, is a dark green, Seate can be seen very close to the base of the plant, and is not visible over top of the leaves.  During collection time, capsules were able to be seen. 

Key Used: McKnight, K. B. (2013). Common mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

Figure 1: Ceratodon purpureus, moss sample.

Figure 2:  Leaf from the purple moss.  The midrib is visible; however, the evenness does not continue through the leaf. The structure is more visible at the base of the leaf, and decreases as it makes its way to the top.

Figure 3: Capsule found on the purple moss. The seate was bent over, and contained a harden capsule. Multiple capsules were found on one sample of the moss. Other samples did not contain capsules. 

Keying Steps:

Acrocarp-Lance

1b. Plants darker green, yellow green, or brownish black, shoots loosely associated or if densely packed then ot in domed mounds; leaves flat or folded but not tubular, with midrib usually visible at least at bas of leaf….3

3b. Plants on soil, rocks, trees, or logs in dry areas, or if in wetter areas, not submerged in water; leaves not folded at base….4

4b. Leaf surface not rippled or wavy when wet….9

9b. Leaves <4mm long….21

21b. Leaves spreading in various directions or barely diverging from stem when wet; plants lacking broad branchlets…..22

22a. Plants 2-10 cm tall (or sprawling and stems 2-10 cm long)….23

23b. leaf margins smooth….24

24b.  Plants yellow green, dark green or reddish…..26

26b. Stems without hairs or few scattered near base only…..27

27b. stems brown or green (not reddish)…..29

29a. plants green to purplish, always upright, growing on rock sometimes, but more commonly on soil or a variety of manmade substrates; capsule stalks 1-3 cm long.

Ceratodon purpureus

Specimen #1 Polytrichum commune, Moss

Name: Polytrichum commune

Common Name: Common Haircap Moss

Family: Polytrichaceae

Collection Date: September 15, 2016

Habitat: Shady area, surrounded by trees, both alive and dead, growing in soil. 

Location: Nelson Ledges

Description: Short growing moss, with small pointed leaves. Leaves are notched around in a circle, with no particular order, and contain microscopic, spike like appendages.  Overall coloring is deep purple/brown, with little green.  No sexual characteristics were found on this sample. 

Figure 1: Polytrichum commune sample.  

Figure 2:  Singular leaf.  The leaf was characterized as being a lance-type.  The dark portion in the center is a large midrib.  Outside of each leaf, there are several thorn like structures that can be seen under a microscope. 

Figure 3:  The leaf, currently from the position that is attached to the stem.  The midrib beings small and thin, and quickly increases the farther it moves up the leaf. The edge of the sample shows the clasping base. 

Key Used: McKnight, K. B. (2013). Common mosses of the Northeast and Appalachians. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.

 Keying Steps:

Growth-Acrocarp- Lance

1b. Plants darker green, yellow green, or brownish black, shoots loosely associated or if densely packed the not in domed mounds; leaves flat or folded but not tubular, with midrib usually visible at least at base of leaf……….3
3b. Plants on soil, rocks, trees, or logs in dry areas, or if in wetter areas, not submerged in water; leaves not folded at base...4 
4b. Leaf surface not rippled or wavy when wet...9
9a. Leaves mostly > 4mm long (some at base or tip of stem may be shorter)...10
10b. Wet leaves stiff, thick, and opaque when held up to light(reminiscent of conifer needles); midrib difficult to see except at leaf base...14
14b. Leaf margin toothed except along clasping leaf base; capsules with or without disk...17
17b. Capsules 4-sided like a box....19
19a. Capsules with a disk at attachment to stalk.....Polytrichum commune