Lejeuneaceae
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Lejeuneaceae |
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leaf cells of Leucolejeunea xanthocarpa, showing oil bodies
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Scientific classification | ||||||||||
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See text. |
Lejeuneaceae is the largest family of liverworts. It is also considered as the most evolved one, since most of its members are epiphytes, which means the grow mainly upon tree trunks.
Most of the species of this family are tropical, yet they can also be found in temperate regions.
The main characteristics of the family:
1.The leaves are incubous.
2. Amphigastrium is usually present,sometimes reduced.
3. Leaves are divided into lobe and lobule.
4. Archaegonium in a perianth.
Some large genera of the family are: Lejeunea, Ceratolejeunea and Cheilolejeunea.