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Diplophyllum albicans

white earwort

Scapaniaceae

Northern Hemisphere; western and northern Europe, northern Asia, North America

Native to North America

SunPart Shade – Full Shade

WaterHigh

Overview

Diplophyllum albicans is a leafy liverwort forming low turfs and patches on acidic substrates. Shoots grow 0.4-3 inches (1-8 cm) long, prostrate to ascending, branching irregularly and rooting by colourless rhizoids. Leaves are arranged in two ranks, each leaf divided into two unequal lobes about 0.04-0.08 inch (1-2 mm) long; a band of narrow, elongated cells runs along each leaf and appears as a pale whitish stripe that gives the plant its bleached green to yellow-green colour. Plants stay green through the year. Reproduction is by spores released from reddish-brown capsules raised on translucent stalks in spring, and by gemmae produced at the tips of the upper leaves. Patches spread sideways to cover several square inches of rock or bank over successive seasons. Colonies dry to a dull grey-green in drought and rehydrate after rain. It is restricted to acidic, lime-free conditions and does not persist on chalk or mortar.

Native Range

Widespread across the cooler and oceanic parts of the Northern Hemisphere, including western and northern Europe, parts of northern Asia, and North America. Most frequent in areas of high rainfall, growing on acidic rock, peaty banks, ravine sides, and upland soil from sea level to about 4,000 feet (1,200 m).

How to Identify

Recognised by the bilobed leaves arranged in two ranks and the pale band of elongated cells along each shoot, which gives a whitish cast against the green. The two leaf lobes are unequal, the lower larger than the upper. Distinguished from Scapania spp. species by the deeper division between the lobes and the lack of a winged keel.

Appearance

Colors

Foliage Colors

green

yellow green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

pale green to yellow-green with a whitish band

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunPartial Shade SunFull Shade

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range3.5 - 5.5(Acidic)

357912

Soil Types

peat rocky

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

High

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Persists in consistently moist, acidic conditions with shade to moderate light, on substrates free of lime. It tolerates seasonal drying by becoming dormant and reviving when moisture returns. Colonies establish on stable rock faces, banks, and compacted peaty soil where competition from vascular plants is limited. Prolonged burial under leaf litter or overgrowth by larger mosses reduces patch vigour. It is not cultivated as a garden plant, and its occurrence depends on natural acidic habitat rather than active management.