Frullania eboracensis Lehm.
Family: Frullaniaceae
Synonyms
none recent
NatureServe Conservation Status
G5
Distribution
Endemic to eastern North America, Canada south to Alabama, west to the Great Lakes Region (Bombosch et al. 2010, Schuster 1992)
Habitat
Ocurring in a wide range of forest types from low (<1,000 ft) to high (>6,000 ft) elevations, given adequate light and humidity.
Brief Description and Tips for Identification
Shoot width: <1 mm. Color: brownish to dull green. Cell walls in leaf lobe: with intermediate thickenings. Dorsal lobe insertion: cordate. Lobules: about as wide as long.
Dioicous. Perianth surface without turbercles.
Frullania eboracensis often produces caducous leaves as a form of specialized asexual reproduction--a character shared with its close relative F. appalachiana. F. eboracensis and F. appalachiana often occur admixed and exhibit the same color variations. The strongly tuberculate perianths of F. appalachiana stand in contrast to the smooth perianths of F. eboracensis.
Salient Features
- Dioicous
- Perianth surface without turbercles
- Cell walls with intermediate thickenings
- Inflated lobules not much longer than wide, mouth open
References
Bombosch, A., A. Wieneke, A. Busch, R. Jonas, J. Hentschel, H-P. Kreier, B. Shaw, A. J. Shaw, and J. Heinrichs. (2010). Narrow species concepts in the Frullania dilatata–appalachiana–eboracensis complex (Porellales, Jungermanniopsida): evidence from nuclear and chloroplast DNA markers. Plant Systematics and Evolution 290 (1-4): 151-158.
Schuster, R.M. 1992. The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America East of the Hundredth Meridian. Volume V. Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago
Habitat
Frullania eboracensis
Young yellow poplars with dark colonies of predominantly F. eboracensis
Frullania eboracensis
Roadside yellow poplars supporting abundant Frullania. F. eboracensis and F. appalachiana dominate; F. brittoniae is also present on the same tree here at 3800 ft. elev. in Buncombe County, North Carolina.
Frullania eboracensis
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Habit
Frullania eboracensis
Male plants with spicate androecia
Frullania eboracensis
Perianths in the left half of the image all belong to F. eboracensis. An intact perianth of F. appalachiana is just right of center.
Frullania eboracensis
Hydrated plants showing perianths that lack tubercles (surface is smooth)
Morphology
Frullania eboracensis
underleaf
Frullania eboracensis
underleaf
Frullania eboracensis
underleaf
Morphology
Frullania eboracensis
Cells of the leaf lobe with poorly developed trigones and intermediate wall thickenings; oil boides 2-4
Frullania eboracensis
Cells of leaf lobe with better developed trigones and intermediate wall thickenings
Frullania eboracensis
Arrow indicates a small auricle projecting beyond the leaf attachment of the cordate base of the dorsal lobe
Morphology
Frullania eboracensis
Ventral view showing lobules
Frullania eboracensis
Frullania eboracensis
Perianth and lobules, ventral view
Morphology
Frullania eboracensis
Same perianth, dry, dorsal and ventral
Frullania eboracensis
Perianth, ventral view
Frullania eboracensis
Morphology
Frullania eboracensis
Frullania eboracensis
