Specimen #1 Metzgeria furcata, Liverwort

Figure 1: Metzgeria furcata 

Figure 2: Metzgeria furcata at a closer look.

Figure 3: Image showing Metzgeria furcata
midrib and thallus close up under the microscope
magnification 4x

Name: Metzgeria furcata Dum.
Common Name: Forked Veilwort
Family: Metzgeriaceae
Collected Date: 9/27/16
Habitat: They grow on bark of many different tree and shrub species. they can often be found on rocks as well. they have a very slim body size with a translucent thallus. they often form yellow-green mats of branches about 1 mm wide.
Location: South Chagrin Reservation
Description: There is a midrib clearly visible. They have thick slim branches with a bumpy texture. Their colors range from brown, yellow-green, to green depending on what stage they are at.
Key Used:Conard, H.S. and P.L. Redfearn, Jr. 1979. How to Know the Mosses and Liverworts 2nd Edition, McGraw-Hill, Boston, Mass.

Keying Steps:
Step 1: Saw the thallus without hairs on upper surface
Step 2: Saw there was an underside of midrib 3-7 cells wide
Step 3: Saw marginal hairs in pairs, thallus 2 mm wide
Step 4: led me to the page with Metzgeria furcata which clearly demonstrates the specie I had
Liverwort Links:
http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=MEFU4
http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/bbs/Activities/liverworts/Metzgeria%20furcata.pdf