''Jungermanniaceae'' is the namesake
family
Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
of
leafy liverworts. It is a group of small plants that are widely distributed. Several genera formerly included within the family are now classified in the
Myliaceae or
Solenostomataceae.
Most of the
species
In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
of this family are found in
temperate
In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout t ...
regions.
The main characteristics of the family:
* The leaves are
succubous
Succubous is a manner in which the leaves of a liverwort overlap. If one were to look down from above (dorsal side) on a plant where the leaf attachment is ''succubous'', the upper edge of each leaf would be covered by the next leaf along the ste ...
.
* The leaves are unlobed and never decurrent along the stem.
*
Perianth
The perianth (perigonium, perigon or perigone in monocots) is the non-reproductive part of the flower, and structure that forms an envelope surrounding the sexual organs, consisting of the calyx (sepals) and the corolla (petals) or tepals when ...
is terminal on the leading shoot.
*
Rhizoid
Rhizoids are protuberances that extend from the lower epidermal cells of bryophytes and algae. They are similar in structure and function to the root hairs of vascular land plants. Similar structures are formed by some fungi. Rhizoids may be unic ...
s are scattered along the stem.
Description
The branches do not grow from the underside of the stem when the plants branch. The leaves are unlobed and have a smooth edge, and the underlobes are vestigial or absent. The
rhizoid
Rhizoids are protuberances that extend from the lower epidermal cells of bryophytes and algae. They are similar in structure and function to the root hairs of vascular land plants. Similar structures are formed by some fungi. Rhizoids may be unic ...
s are scattered along the underside of the stem, and not restricted to specific patches near the underleaves.
Subfamilies and genera
Subfamilies and genera included in Jungermanniaceae:
*
Delavayelloideae Grolle
**''
Delavayella''
Steph.
**''
Liochlaena''
Nees
*
Jungermannioideae Dumort.
**''
Eremonotus''
Lindb. & Kaal. ex Pearson
**''
Jungermannia''
L.
*
Mesoptychioideae R.M.Schust.
**''
Mesoptychia''
(Lindb.) A.Evans
**''
Rivulariella''
D.H.Wagner.
Other genera in the Jungermanniaceae:
* ''
Cryptostipula''
R.M.Schust.
* ''
Roivainenia''
References
*
Jungermanniales
Liverwort families
Taxa named by Ludwig Reichenbach
{{Bryophyte-stub