Overview of the Genus       Field Collecting and Lab Observations       Morphology

Summary Table

sex Inflated lobules narrow line of ocelli perianth with tubercles Conservation ranks
F. appalachiana dioicous - - + G1?, NC-S1?, TN-S1
F. asagrayana dioicous + + - G5
F. brittoniae dioicous - - +/- G4
F. caulisequa monoicous + - - G4G5, TN-S-S1
F. eboracensis dioicous - - - G5
F. ericoides dioicous - - +/- G3G5
F. inflata monoicous - - - G5
F. kunzei monoicous + - - G4
F. oakesiana monoicous - - - G4, NC-W7-SH
F. plana monoicous - - - G4, NC-W7-S1, TN-S-S2
F. riparia dioicous - - unknown G4G5
F. viriginica dioicous - - +/- Not ranked
  1. Leaf lobe with a distinct line of ocelli (best seen in a wet mount)
    F. asagrayana
    1. Leaf lobe without a distinct line of ocelli
    2
    1. Base of underleaf with prominent auricles straddling the stem
    F. plana
    1. Base of underleaf without prominent auricles
    3
    1. Dry shoots with leaf lobes wrapping downward, in places curling under the stem; leaf lobes squarrose when wet
    F. ericoides
    1. Dry shoots with leaf lobes plane or curled downward only slightly; wet leaf lobes plane or squarrose
    4
    1. Leaf lobules throughout the entire plant consistently large in relation to the dorsal lobe, occupying 75% or more the area of the dorsal lobe
    F. oakesiana
    1. Leaf lobules consistently small or variable in size on the same plant, usually occupying less than 75% of the area of the dorsal lobe (some lobules may be large and obscure 75% or more of the dorsal lobe but other lobules on the same shoot will be smaller in relation to the dorsal lobe)
    5
    1. Leaf lobules angled away from the stem; base of lobules separated from the stem by a distance equal to or greater than the lobule width; lobules always inflated (except those near perianths or in the androecia)
    F. caulisequa
    1. Leaf lobules parallel to the stem; lobules touching stem or separated by a distance less than the lobule width; lobules inflated or explanate
    6
    1. Monoicous
    7
    1. Dioicous
    8
    1. Leaf lobules often explanate, when inflated as wide or wider than long; green to brown/blackened plants
    F. inflata
    1. Leaf lobules always inflated (except those near perianths or in the androecia), longer than wide; red to blackened plants (infrequently greenish in shade forms)
    F. kunzei
    1. Leaf lobes distant to slightly overlapping; lobules often all explanate, extending at least halfway across the ventral face of the dorsal lobe; underleaves large, regularly 3-4 times wider than diameter of the stem, distant and easy to demonstrate; generally lax plants often loosely adhering to the substrate (almost always rock); mature perianths and male plants unknown
    F. riparia
    1. Leaf lobes imbricate (except in small, poorly developed plants); lobules mostly all inflated, if lobules explanate rarely extending to halfway across the ventral face of the dorsal lobe; underleaves small, as wide as stem or up to 3 times the width of the stem, often difficult to demonstrate; rather firmly attached to rock or bark (or exposed wood; rarely as an epiphyll)
    9
    1. Oil bodies 4-8 in cells of leaf lobe (avoiding cells in the very base of the lobe and cells in the leaf margin)
    F. brittoniae
    1. Oil bodies 2-5 in cells of leaf lobe
    10
    1. Perianth smooth, without turbercles
    11
    1. Perianth with tubercles (may be limited to the ridges of the perianth, best seen in hydrated specimens and confirmed with compound microscope)
    12
    1. Perianth without prominent dorsal ridges and keels; female bracts usually not squarrose when wet; lobules of mature, well-formed leaves usually small; mouth of lobule not compressed; shoots with caducous leaves often present, sometimes abundant
    F. eboracensis
    1. Perianth with prominent dorsal ridges and often with deep dorsal pleats demarcating dorsal keels; female bracts typically squarrose when wet but sometimes not; lobules of mature, well-formed leaves consistently small, or some small and others large; mouth of lobule rarely (rare on a single shoot) with mouth strongly compressed; shoots with caducous leaves rarely seen and never abundant, usually arising as small, determinate side branches on main shoots
    F. viginica, in part
    1. Perianth almost always without prominent dorsal ridges, never strongly keeled dorsally; perianth always tuberculate across the dorsal and ventral face; perianth beak short; female bracts almost always nonsquarrose when wet; some lobules with the mouth strongly compressed; large lobules on mature shoot sectors common; main shoots with caducous leaves usually common
    F. appalachiana
    1. Perianth with prominent dorsal ridges and often with deep dorsal pleats demarcating dorsal keels; perianth tuberculate across the dorsal and ventral face, or tubercles restricted to perianth ridges and keels; perianth beak often long, sometimes short; female bracts typically squarrose when wet but sometimes not; lobules rarely (rare on a single shoot) with mouth strongly compressed; large lobules on mature shoot sectors less common; shoots with caducous leaves rarely seen and never abundant, usually arising as small, determinate side branches on main shoots
    F. viginica, in part