grove earwort

Scapania nemorea (L.) Grolle is a member of the Scapaniaceae family and is known by the common name grove earwort. It is found in regions including Québec, Labrador, several Azorean islands, and parts of Belgium, Luxembourg, and the United States. The species was formally described in 1964. Taxonomic debates have centered on its relationship with J. nemorosa L. (1763), with some researchers initially considering it a superfluous name or an orthographic variant. However, later studies demonstrated that 'nemorea' is distinct from 'nemorosa', affirming the legitimacy of Scapania nemorea. A specimen in the Herb. Dillenius collection was selected as the lectotype, though it was not part of the original material described by Linnaeus. In the absence of original material, this selection is accepted as a neotypification under nomenclatural rules.