Liverwort Genus Research Articles

An integrative taxonomic study of the genus Lethocolea (Marchantiophyta: Acrobolbaceae)

Background and aims – Lethocolea (Acrobolbaceae) is a small liverwort genus of seven species distributed in temperate regions of the Southern Hemisphere and on tropical mountains. The taxonomic history of the genus has been chaotic, the species were described under many different names and have been distinguished mainly based on geography. Here, we undertook a taxonomic revision of the genus based on a reassessment of morphological characters and a molecular analysis. Material and methods – Type material and additional collections from 17 herbaria were examined in the morphological study. Sequences of the rps4 chloroplast region and maximum likelihood analyses were used to reconstruct the phylogeny. Key results and conclusions – Two fully supported clades were resolved within Lethocolea lending support to the recognition of two subgenera, subgen. Lethocolea and subgen. Symphyomitra. Lethocolea congesta from Africa, and L. glossophylla and L. radicosa from America exhibited considerable morphological overlap and were not distinguishable based on rps4 sequences. The latter two species are reduced into synonymy with L. congesta, whose range spans across Africa, the Neotropics and southern South America. In Australasia, where only one species, L. pansa, is recognized, two morphotypes were found. The first one, with a smooth cuticle, wingless gemmae, and leaf cells without trigones, is identical to the type of L. pansa and occurs in Australia and New Zealand. In addition, the species is newly reported from South Africa. The second morphotype has a papillose cuticle, winged gemmae, and leaf cells with distinct trigones, and is assigned to L. javanica, which ranges across Australasia and furthermore occurs in Java and India. The recognition of these two species is supported by molecular analysis. Altogether, we recognize four species within Lethocolea, which are thoroughly described, illustrated, and keyed. We present 12 new lectotypifications.

The Content of Volatile Organic Compounds in Calypogeia suecica (Calypogeiaceae, Marchantiophyta) Confirms Genetic Differentiation of This Liverwort Species into Two Groups.

Calypogeia is a genus of liverworts in the family Calypogeiaceae. The subject of this study was Calypogeia suecica. Samples of the liverwort Calypogeia suecica were collected from various places in southern Poland. A total of 25 samples were collected in 2021, and 25 samples were collected in 2022. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from liverworts were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 107 compounds were detected, of which 38 compounds were identified. The identified compounds were dominated by compounds from the sesquiterpene group (up to 34.77%) and sesquiterpenoids (up to 48.24%). The tested samples of Calypogeia suecica also contained compounds belonging the aromatic classification (up to 5.46%), aliphatic hydrocarbons (up to 1.66%), and small amounts of monoterpenes (up to 0.17%) and monoterpenoids (up to 0.30%). Due to the observed differences in the composition of VOCs, the tested plant material was divided into two groups, in accordance with genetic diversity.

The global pattern of epiphytic liverwort disparity: insights from Frullania

The geographical and ecological patterns of morphological disparity are crucial to understand how species are assembled within communities in the context of the evolutionary history, morphological evolution and ecological interactions. However, with limited exceptions, rather few studies have been conducted on the global pattern of disparity, particularly in early land plants. Here we explored the spatial accumulation of disparity in a morphologically variable and species rich liverwort genus Frullania in order to test the hypothesis of latitude disparity gradient. We compiled a morphological data set consisting of eight continuous traits for 244 currently accepted species, and scored the species distribution into 19 floristic regions worldwide. By reconstructing the morphospace of all defined regions and comparisons, we identified a general Gondwana-Laurasia pattern of disparity in Frullania. This likely results from an increase of ecological opportunities and / or relaxed constraints towards low latitudes. The lowest disparity occurred in arid tropical regions, largely due to a high extinction rate as a consequence of paleoaridification. There was weak correlation between species diversity and disparity at different spatial scales. Furthermore, long-distance dispersal may have partially shaped the present-day distribution of Frullania disparity, given its frequency and the great contribution of widely distributed species to local morphospace. This study not only highlighted the crucial roles of paleoenvironmental changes, ecological opportunities, and efficient dispersal on the global pattern of plant disparity, but also implied its dependence on the ecological and physiological function of traits.

Possible carnivory in the epiphytic liverwort Pleurozia acinosa (Mitt.) Trevis. is not confirmed

ABSTRACT Introduction. Although in all proven cases of carnivory in plants the relevant species are in the Angiospermae, it has been posited that this phenomenon occurs in two genera of liverworts, Colura and Pleurozia. The suggested occurence of zoophagy in these groups is largely based on their trap-like water sacs, leaf modifications, and the positive results of ‘feeding’ experiments; however, no evidence of nitrogen uptake has been presented. Methods. We measured δ13C, δ15N, %C and %N in Pleurozia acinosa (Mitt.) Trevis. from tropical montane forests in Vietnam, and in representatives from several reference plant groups, both carnivorous and non-carnivorous, and including epiphytes and terrestrial plants. Key results and conclusions. δ13C values in Pleurozia acinosa were significantly higher than in all other groups of plants studied. However, δ15N was significantly lower in P. acinosa than in both groups of true carnivorous plants, and it did not differ from that in non-carnivorous vascular epiphytes and phorophyte trees, being even lower than in other epiphytic bryophytes. Thus, our results do not support the suggestion of carnivory in the genus Pleurozia.

Kahakuloa operculispora, a new Hawaiian simple thalloid liverwort in a new genus and family, Kahakuloaceae (Fossombroniales)

Kahakuloa operculispora, a new simple thalloid liverwort endemic to Hawaiʻi, so far only known from high elevation bogs in western Maui, is described and illustrated. The thallus has prominent reddish-purple rhizoids, uniseriate ventral slime papillae and lacks scales. The plants are dioicous; male plants have antheridia sunken in several rows of dorsal chambers, subtended by scales, while female plants have clustered archegonia enclosed by thick, barrel-shaped involucres that develop serially at the plant apex, before fertilization, and are arranged in a single dorsal row at maturity; perichaetial scales and pseudoperianths (defined as involucres developing after fertilization) are lacking. The capsules are spherical, 2−3 stratose, and dehisce irregularly; the spores are areolate and have a unique operculum-like disk on the proximal face. Molecular and morphological evidence supports placement of the plant in a new genus and family in the order Fossombroniales, suborder Fossombroniineae. Kahakuloa is the first liverwort genus endemic to Hawaiʻi, and Kahakuloaceae is the only known endemic Hawaiian land plant family.

Front Cover: Two New Eremophilane‐Type Sesquiterpenoids from Japanese Liverwort Bazzania japonica (Chem. Biodiversity 4/2023)

Front Cover. Two new eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoids, fusumaols A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the stem-leafy liverwort, Bazzania japonica, collected in Mori-Machi, Shizuoka, Japan. Their structures were established using extensive spectroscopic data, and the absolute configuration of 1 was determined using the modified Mosher's method. This is the first report of eremophilanes isolated from the liverwort genus Bazzania. Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for their repellent activity against an adult population of the rice weevil Sitophilus zeamais using a modified filter paper impregnation method. Both sesquiterpenoids exhibited moderate repellent activity, as reported by Ryosuke Fukada et al. in their research article at 10.1002/cbdv.202300131.

Two New Eremophilane-Type Sesquiterpenoids from Japanese Liverwort Bazzania japonica.

Two new eremophilane-type sesquiterpenoids, fusumaols A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the stem-leafy liverwort, Bazzania japonica collected in Mori-Machi, Shizuoka, Japan. Their structures were established using extensive spectroscopic (IR, MS, and 2D NMR) data, and the absolute configuration of 1 was determined by the modified Mosher's method. This is the first time eremophilanes have been discovered in the liverwort genus Bazzania. Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for their repellent activity against the adult population of the rice weevil Sitophilus zeamais using the modified filter paper impregnation method. Both sesquiterpenoids showed moderate repellent activities.

Discovery and Anticancer Activity of the Plagiochilins from the Liverwort Genus Plagiochila.

The present analysis retraces the discovery of plagiochilins A-to-W, a series of seco-aromadendrane-type sesquiterpenes isolated from diverse leafy liverworts of the genus Plagiochila. Between 1978, with the first isolation of the leader product plagiochilin A from P. yokogurensis, and 2005, with the characterization of plagiochilin X from P. asplenioides, a set of 24 plagiochilins and several derivatives (plagiochilide, plagiochilal A-B) has been isolated and characterized. Analogue compounds recently described are also evoked, such as the plagiochianins and plagicosins. All these compounds have been little studied from a pharmacological viewpoint. However, plagiochilins A and C have revealed marked antiproliferative activities against cultured cancer cells. Plagiochilin A functions as an inhibitor of the termination phase of cytokinesis: the membrane abscission stage. This unique, innovative mechanism of action, coupled with its marked anticancer action, notably against prostate cancer cells, make plagiochilin A an interesting lead molecule for the development of novel anticancer agents. There are known options to increase its potency, as deduced from structure-activity relationships. The analysis shed light on this family of bryophyte species and the little-known group of bioactive terpenoid plagiochilins. Plagiochilin A and derivatives shall be further exploited for the design of novel anticancer targeting the cytokinesis pathway.

Morphological and molecular evidence confirms a new species, Riccia subcrinita YouL.Xiang & R.L.Zhu) and Riccia junghuhniana Nees & Lindenb. (Ricciaceae, Marchantiophyta) new to China

Riccia is the largest genus of complex thalloid liverworts (Marchantiopsida) with over 250 species currently accepted. Our recent investigation of Chinese liverworts found two interesting Riccia species, R. junghuhniana and Riccia subcrinita sp. nov. Riccia junghuhniana is currently known from Australia and Indonesia, while Riccia subcrinita is known only from China. Riccia subcrinita is similar to R. crinita, but differs in having smaller spores (56–71 µm in diameter), and spore distal surface and proximal surface alveoli without thick borders. The sequences of rbcL, rps4, and trnL-F, detailed descriptions, and illustrations of the Chinese specimens are provided. The range extension of R. junghuhniana suggests that more taxa of Riccia may have a wider distribution. The discovery of R. junghuhniana and the new species also suggests that a more intensive survey of Riccia diversity in China is necessary.

On the nests, eggs, and reproductive evidence of Tyrian Metaltail (Metallura tyrianthina) and Glowing Puffleg (Eriocnemis vestita) in the northeastern Colombian Andes

The reproductive biology of tropical hummingbirds has been documented and studied in only a small fraction of species relative to the great diversity of this group. Little has been written about breeding biology of hummingbirds at the Northern Andes Eastern Cordillera in Colombia. We present detailed information on the dates, nesting locations, construction materials, measurements of nests and eggs, and gonad development of adult specimens to augment the scant reproductive data available of 2 widely distributed highland hummingbirds, the Tyrian Metaltail (Metallura tyrianthina) and the Glowing Puffleg (Eriocnemis vestita). These data were obtained during multi-taxa collection expeditions in the high-elevation region of the Department of Boyacá, Colombia. We found 2 Tyrian Metaltail nests in February and May, and adults with enlarged gonads in August. The single Glowing Puffleg nest was found in October, adults with enlarged gonads in May and October, and a chick mortality event (possibly due to frost) in November. Nesting sites for both species were in banks where they built 2-layered cup nests. Although nest locations and construction materials were similar to what has been reported before for hummingbirds in these genera, we identified the plants of these nests' microhabitats, as well as the families and genera of liverworts, mosses, and others used as nest construction materials. The evidence of active nests and enlarged gonads of specimens collected in this study, together with observations made by previous authors, suggest that these 2 hummingbird species breed throughout most of the year at the northeastern Andes. Our data contributes to the understanding of the reproductive biology of these hummingbirds in this region.

The evolution and biogeographic history of epiphytic thalloid liverworts

Among liverworts, the epiphytic lifestyle is not only present in leafy forms but also in thalloid liverworts, which so far has received little attention in evolutionary and biogeographical studies. Metzgeria, with about 107 species worldwide, is the only genus of thalloid liverworts that comprises true epiphytes. In the present study, we provide the first comprehensive molecular phylogeny, including estimated divergence times and ancestral ranges of this genus. Analyses are based on a plastid marker dataset representing about half of the Metzgeria species diversity. We show for the first time with molecular data that Austrometzgeria is indeed a member of Metzgeria and that two morpho-species M. furcata and M. leptoneura are not monophyletic, but rather represent geographically well-defined clades. Our analyses indicate that Metzgeria started to diversify in the Cretaceous in an area encompassing today’s South America and Australasia. Thus, Metzgeria is one of the few known epiphytic liverwort genera whose biogeographic history was directly shaped by Gondwana vicariance. Subsequent dispersal events in the Cenozoic resulted in the colonization of Asia, Africa, North America, and Europe and led to today’s worldwide distribution of its species. We also provide the first reliable stem age estimate for Metzgeria due to the inclusion of its sister taxon Vandiemenia in our dating analyses. Additionally, this stem age estimate of about 240 million years most likely marks the starting point of a transition from a terrestrial to an epiphytic lifestyle in thalloid liverworts of the Metzgeriales. We assume that the Cretaceous Terrestrial Revolution played a key role in the evolution of epiphytic thalloid liverworts similar to that known for leafy liverworts.

Antimicrobial activity of copper and silver metal nanoparticles synthesized from Riccia fluitans

Riccia bryophyte, a genus of liverworts that comes under the family of Ricciaceae, order Marchantiales. The plants are primitive plant structure, that's not differentiated into root, stem, and leaf. The material utilized in this study was a Spp of a Riccia fluitans, that grows on damp soil or, less unremarkably, floating in ponds, and is usually utilized in aquariums. The nanoparticles utilized in this study exhibit potential medicinal drug activity. Advantages of its therapeutic potential can be utilized in a sizable number of fields like health care, cosmetics, biomedical, food and feed, drug-gene delivery, surroundings, health mechanics, optics, chemical industries, physical science, area industries, energy science, catalysis, lightweight emitters, single lepton transistors, nonlinear optical devices, and photo-electrochemical applications. This study aimed to gauge the medicinal drug activity of Riccian nanoparticles, copper-loaded nanoparticles, and silver-loaded nanoparticles against varied microorganisms. The result of the study showed that the Nanoparticle, Ag-NP and Cu-Np synthesized from Riccia is having good antimicrobial activity against tested organisms.

<strong><em>Pandea</em>, a new replacement name for <em>Udaria</em> D.K. Singh, S. Majumdar & D. Singh (Marchantiophyta, Lophocoleaceae)</strong>

The generic name Udaria Gupta (1996:103) was established by Gupta (1996) with two fossil fungi species Udaria singhii Gupta (1996:103) and U. saxenae Gupta (1996:104) from Lower Tertiary sediments of Himachal Pradesh, India. Later on, Singh et al. (2018) described the new genus of liverworts, Udaria Singh, Majumdar & Singh (2018: 1537) with the single species Udaria lamellicaulis Singh, Majumdar & Singh (2018: 1537) to the family Lophocoleaceae Vanden Berghen (1956: 208) from Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim in Eastern Himalaya, India. After a thorough scrutiny of literature and type specimens, it was found that the liverwort genus name, Udaria Singh, Majumdar & Singh (2018: 1537) is illegitimate as it is a later homonym of the fossil fungi genus Udaria Gupta (1996:103). Therefore, a new replacement name Pandea U. B. Deshmukh is proposed with a new combination for the type species here in accordance with article 53.1 of Shenzhen Code (Turland et al. 2018).

Chemical Diversity of Liverworts FromFrullaniaGenus

Frullania is one of the largest and taxonomically most complex genus of leafy liverworts. Current morphology-based estimates of Frullania diversity are close to 400 species; however, species level-classification of Frullania has been regarded notoriously difficult and subject to many studies. The liverworts classified in this genus have been studied using morphological evidence and molecular markers but also in terms of secondary metabolite composition. Up to now 98 Frullania species have been chemically investigated. As a result, it is known that Frullania species are characterized by a remarkable chemical diversity. The most characteristic compounds present in this liverwort genus are sesquiterpene lactones with eudesamnolides as the most diverse group, and aromatic compounds belonging to bibenzyls. In this review paper we report the distribution of secondary metabolites in all chemically investigated Frullania species and discuss some aspects concerning the division of this genus into chemotypes.

Ramudaria – A New Name for Udaria (Lophocoleaceae, Marchantiophyta)

The leafy liverwort genus Udaria D.K.Singh, S.Majumdar & D.Singh was recently described based on plants from Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim in India. However, the name is a later homonym of Udaria A.Gupta, a fossil fungal genus discovered in Tertiary sediments of Dagshai and Subathu Formations in Himachal Pradesh, India. Hence, the liverwort genus is renamed here as Ramudaria, nom. nov. honouring the original eponym, Prof. Ram Udar. Its only species, Udaria lamellicaulis D.K.Singh, S.Majumdar & D.Singh is transferred to the newly named genus as Ramudaria lamellicaulis, comb. nov.

On the diversity and distribution of the genus Frullania in Northern Holarctic

In Northern Holarctic, the liverwort genus Frullania includes 61 accepted species and at least ten undescribed new species making the genus the most diversified in that region. The presence of numerous endemics points to the role of the arising of new species, while the possible exchange between the continents through the Atlantic and Beringia land bridges resulted in species common for both North America and Eurasia.

An ancient tropical origin, dispersals via land bridges and Miocene diversification explain the subcosmopolitan disjunctions of the liverwort genus Lejeunea

Understanding the biogeographical and diversification processes explaining current diversity patterns of subcosmopolitan-distributed groups is challenging. We aimed at disentangling the historical biogeography of the subcosmopolitan liverwort genus Lejeunea with estimation of ancestral areas of origin and testing if sexual system and palaeotemperature variations can be factors of diversification. We assembled a dense taxon sampling for 120 species sampled throughout the geographical distribution of the genus. Lejeunea diverged from its sister group after the Paleocene-Eocene boundary (52.2 Ma, 95% credibility intervals 50.1–54.2 Ma), and the initial diversification of the crown group occurred in the early to middle Eocene (44.5 Ma, 95% credibility intervals 38.5–50.8 Ma). The DEC model indicated that (1) Lejeunea likely originated in an area composed of the Neotropics and the Nearctic, (2) dispersals through terrestrial land bridges in the late Oligocene and Miocene allowed Lejeunea to colonize the Old World, (3) the Boreotropical forest covering the northern regions until the late Eocene did not facilitate Lejeunea dispersals, and (4) a single long-distance dispersal event was inferred between the Neotropics and Africa. Biogeographical and diversification analyses show the Miocene was an important period when Lejeunea diversified globally. We found slight support for higher diversification rates of species with both male and female reproductive organs on the same individual (monoicy), and a moderate positive influence of palaeotemperatures on diversification. Our study shows that an ancient origin associated with a dispersal history facilitated by terrestrial land bridges and not long-distance dispersals are likely to explain the subcosmopolitan distribution of Lejeunea. By enhancing the diversification rates, monoicy likely favoured the colonisations of new areas, especially in the Miocene that was a key epoch shaping the worldwide distribution.

<p><strong>The genus <em>Lejeunea</em> Lib. (Lejeuneaceae, Marchantiophyta) in Brazil</strong></p>

Lejeunea is one of the largest genera of liverworts in the Neotropics and probably the largest liverwort genus in Brazil. We present the first treatment of Lejeunea for Brazil, and for any major part of the Neotropics. Fifty-eight species and three varieties are recognized. A key to the Brazilian species of Lejeunea is provided and each species is briefly described with data on geographical distribution, habitat, differentiating characters and affinities, and reference to published illustrations. Illustrations of a few selected species are also provided. Almost half of the species (24) are widely distributed in tropical America and four of them occur also in Africa; one species, L. flava, is pantropical. About 40% of the species (23) have more restricted ranges and are limited to tropical South America. Ten of them (L. atlantica, L. beyrichiana, L. combuensis, L. flagellifera, L. juruana, L. longidentata, L. oligoclada, L. perpapillosa, L. pulchra, L. subplana) are only known from Brazil. Within Brazil 19 species are widespread, the remaining ones have restricted distributions in the country. Twenty-three species are newly reduced to synonymy (see list in text), fourteen new lectotypifications are designated, two species are newly described, L. atlantica sp. nov. and L. pulchra sp. nov., and four new combinations are proposed: L. acanthogona var. cristulata comb. nov., L. acanthogona var. diversicuspis comb. nov., L. acanthogona var. grossiretis comb. nov. and L. beyrichiana comb. nov. Lejeunea cochleata is reported new to Brazil and L. rionegrensis is new to Ecuador.

Frullania stylifera (R.M.Schust.) R.M.Schust. (Hepaticae), new to Eurasia

Introduction. Frullania Raddi is one of the largest genera of liverworts, and the number of accepted names is still fluctuating as a result of ongoing revisionary work. Specimens, believed to be F. stylifera, an eastern North American endemic, had been collected in several remote regions in both the European and Asian parts of Russia. Methods. To confirm the identity of the Eurasian specimens they were compared morphologically with American material including the types of F. stylifera (holotype F!, isotype UBC!). DNA data were also obtained and compared from recent specimens collected on both continents, using two nucleotide markers ITS1-2 nrDNA and trnL-F cpDNA. Key results. Frullania stylifera, previously known as an endemic of Eastern North America, was proved to be present in the European and Asian parts of Russia. A detailed description, and discussion of its variability, ecology and distribution are provided, along with morphological and molecular distinctions from similar species. Conclusions. European and Asian specimens of F. stylifera are the same species as American ones according to molecular results, but show some morphological differences. However, both the shape and size of the perianth, the structure of the capsule wall and the size of spores are quite characteristic and rather stable in all specimens studied.

Distribution of the Leafy Liverwort Frullania in Northwestern Missouri

Based on 308 specimens of Frullania Raddi collected in a variety of habitats in a 19-county region of northwestern Missouri between 2015-2018, 40 new county records are reported for this region dominated by agroecosystems. Six species of Frullania are now documented in northwestern Missouri. This study illustrates a broad distribution of a liverwort genus in a region of the Central United States. Despite extensive anthropogenic landscape conversion for over a century, riparian corridors, fire suppression, and conservation management have led to a heterogeneous network of forested habitats in northwestern Missouri.