Family: Frullaniaceae

Synonyms

none regionally

NatureServe Conservation Status

G5

Distribution

Europe. North America. The North American distribution will be clarified by Atwood (FNA vol. 29, in prep.).

Habitat

On bark of various trees in humid stream ravines and dry oak-hickory forests. Occurrences on rock are common. Apparently a lowland species with scattered known occurrences in the Southern Appalachians.

Brief Description and Tips for Identification

Shoot width: to 1 mm.  Color: green to brownish  Cell walls in leaf lobe: without intermediate thickenings.  Dorsal lobe insertion: truncate.  Lobules: about as wide as long when inflated.

Monoicous. Perianth surface without turbercles; perianth with supplementary keels dorsally and ventrally

Two entities Schuster (1992) considered to be synonymous with F. inflata, F. rappii (large trigones), and F. saxicoloa (perianth mouth occluded by papillae), will be recognized as distinct species by Atwood (FNA vol. 29, in prep.). Neither taxon is yet known from the Southern Appalachians.

Salient Features

  • Monoicous
  • Cell walls of leaf lobe lacking intermediate thickenings, trigones small
  • Lobules often explanate
  • Peianths with well developed supplementary dorsal and ventral keels

A very frequent species in the southeastern U.S. but not well known from the Southern Appalachians where it appears restricted to lower elevations.


Habitat

liverwort

Frullania inflata

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liverwort

Frullania inflata

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liverwort

Frullania inflata

Habit

liverwort

Frullania inflata

Dry plants with several dehished capsules

liverwort

Frullania inflata

Dry plants

liverwort

Frullania inflata

A hydrated seta and dehisced capsule extend from an obscurred perianth

Habit

liverwort

Frullania inflata

Perianths of F. inflata are marked with an "i" in red; those of F. virginica with a blue "v". Tubercles on perianths of F. virginica impart a "bumpiness" that is detectable (most of the time) at low magnification. The two species are often found together.

Morphology

liverwort

Frullania inflata

The female branch has not developed a perianth but is still recognizable as female due to surrounding leaves (bracts) that are slightly modified. When in doubt, one should dissect the branch tip and search for arcegonia.

liverwort

Frullania inflata

Male branch is relatively close to the female branch

liverwort

Frullania inflata

Ventral view showing both inflated and explanate lobules

Morphology

liverwort

Frullania inflata

Monoicous with explanate lobules

liverwort

Frullania inflata

Ventral view

liverwort

Frullania inflata

Monoicous with inflated lobules

Morphology

liverwort

Frullania inflata

Cells of leaf lobe

liverwort

Frullania inflata

Cells of leaf lobe, note small trigones and lack of intermediate wall thickenings

liverwort

Frullania inflata

Cells of leaf lobe