Epiphytes on Big Leaf Maple
One of the most accessible places to learn mosses and liverworts in the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest is along the trunk of a big leaf maple (Acer macrophyllum). This tree, on account of the rivulets and ridges that run down it and the dense and dichotomously branched canopy is a haven for thick carpets of bryophytes and a few other epiphytes. Below are photos of the some of the common species you might encounter. I'll try and add more as I encounter them.
Also in the comments below, @chlorophilia mentions a much more in depth repository of Big Leaf Maple epiphytes and associated that can be found here:
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Menzies' Tree Moss (Leucolepis acanthoneura)Observer
rambryumDescription
Showing tree-like habit and multiple sporophytes emerging from stem apex. On trunk of big leaf maple
Photos / Sounds
What
Menzies' Metaneckera Moss (Neckera menziesii)Observer
rambryumDescription
Showing undulose leaves in flattenned arrangement with sporophytes surrounded by leaves (immersed) and dense carpets on the trunk of bigleaf maple
Photos / Sounds
What
Licorice Fern (Polypodium glycyrrhiza)Observer
rambryumDescription
On trunk of bigleaf maple
Photos / Sounds
What
Douglas' Neckera Moss (Neckera douglasii)Observer
rambryumDescription
On bigleaf maple showing pendant shoots, undulating leaves with acute apices and sporophytes with obvious stalk
Photos / Sounds
What
Crispleaf Roughmoss (Claopodium crispifolium)Observer
rambryumDescription
On trunk of bigleaf maple
Photos / Sounds
What
Oregon Beaked Moss (Kindbergia oregana)Observer
rambryumDescription
On trunk of bigleaf maple
Photos / Sounds
What
Dust Lichens (Genus Lepraria)Observer
rambryumDescription
On trunk of bigleaf maple
Photos / Sounds
What
Lanky Moss (Rhytidiadelphus loreus)Observer
rambryumDescription
On trunk of bigleaf maple
Photos / Sounds
What
Rough Goose Neck Moss (Hylocomiadelphus triquetrus)Observer
rambryumDescription
On trunk of bigleaf maple
Photos / Sounds
What
Tree Ruffle Liverwort (Porella navicularis)Observer
rambryumDescription
On maple
Photos / Sounds
What
Flat-leaved Scalewort (Radula complanata)Observer
rambryumDescription
On maple. Note overlapping leaves
Comments
This is an excellent post, rambryum. It will make these bryophytes much more interesting and more accessible to people. Would it be all right with you if I share your contribution on the Biodiversity Squamish FB Group Page?
By all means. I still need to add about 10 more species of bryophytes and lichens:
Antitrichia curtipendula
Dendroalsia abi..
Isothecium stoloniferum
Orthotrichum lyallii
Plagiomnium venustum
Plagiomnium insigne
Porella navicularis
Zygodon ver.
Graphis scripta
Lobaria pulmonaria
Parmelia sulc.
Thank you for sharing this! I need to pay more attention to those epiphytes now :)
Porella cordaeana is another common epiphyte on bigleaf maple
—great note Randal! You remind me that I had set up a project once upon a time toward a similar end!
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/epiphytic-associates-of-bigleaf-maple
I had no idea Plagiomnium could grow on a maple! So cool!!
With all the rain this spring, the bryophytes in Squamish are catching the eye of people 'out there' exploring. It's timely to re-post your wonderful journal entry, Randal/rambryum, to the Biodiversity Squamish FB group page, together with the link that Andrew/chlorophilia contributed. Thanks to both of you!
Add a Comment