Bryophytes and Lichens of the Pacific Northwest

Schistostega pennata (Hedw.) Web. & Mohr

    Plant with sporophyte, photographed at 17x.
    Note the several perichaetia on shorter branches among the leaves.

Leaf, photographed with epi-illumination at 70x.  Leaf width at point of insertion is about 280 mm.

Schistostega grows in dark recesses on damp soil or rock, and gets its common name, "goblins gold" from the reflective character of the leaves and protonema.  Though it has a wide geographic distribution, it is very rare, and only recently discovered in Oregon.

Look for Schistostega in the dark and damp overhangs of upturned rootwads on fallen trees, usually in perennially wet forests of lake margins.

More photographs of Schistostega :

Sterile shoots showing distichous leaves with decurrent bases and confluence with adjacent leaves.
Also note the shiny gold color reflected from the cell walls.
The last frame is photographed with transmitted light.
 

Perichaetia, each with a single archegonium, paraphyses, and perichaetial leaves.
The photo at left shows early stages in sporophyte development.
Photographed at 100x with side lighting.