Frullania brittoniae A. Evans

Family: Frullaniaceae

Synonyms

none regionally

NatureServe Conservation Status

G4

Distribution

Endemic to North America. New England south to Florida, west to Texas.

Habitat

In the Southern Appalachians said to be "particularly abundant in the gorges draining the Southern Appalachian Escarpment" and not found at elevations above ca. 4500 ft. (Schuster 1992, p. 163). Found in upland oak-hickory forests and in cove hardwood forests on a variety of hardwood trees.

Brief Description and Tips for Identification

Shoot width: to 1-1.5 mm.  Color: geenish to brownish.  Cell walls in leaf lobe: with intermediate thickenings.  Dorsal lobe insertion: cordate.  Lobules: about as wide as long, mouth compressed

Dioicous. Perianth surface with turbercles.

The number of oil bodies (4-7) in cells of the leaf lobe is quite useful for distinguishing F. brittoniae from F. appalachiana, F. eboracensis, and F. virginica whose oil bodies number fewer (2-5).

Salient Features

• Dioicous
• Oil bodies 4-7 (or more) in cells of leaf lobe
• Underleaves with prominent marginal teeth often near the level of the sinus between the lobes
• Lobules inflated in upper part and mouth typically strongly closed
• Perianth beak often long

Well developed underleaves are very helpful in confirming identifications, especially in long-dead plants lacking oil bodies. The shape of underleaves is distinctive in the wide, toothed shoulders that quickly narrow to the insertion on the stem.