Phycolepidozia

Phycolepidozia exigua
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Marchantiophyta
Class: Jungermanniopsida
Order: Jungermanniales
Family: Phycolepidoziaceae
R.M. Schust.[1]
Genus: Phycolepidozia
R.M. Schust.[1]
Species: P. exigua
Binomial name
Phycolepidozia exigua
R.M. Schust.[1]

Phycolepidozia exigua is the only species of liverwort in the genus Phycolepidozia and family Phycolepidoziaceae. It is endemic to Dominica, where it is critically endangered.[2] Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.

The species is unique among the leafy liverworts in the extreme reduction of its lateral leaves.[1] These leaves consist of only two cells at maturity, so that plants are essentially leafless.[3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Schuster, Rudolf M. (1966). "Studies on Hepaticae, XXVIII. On Phycolepidozia, a new, highly reduced genus of Jungermanniales of questionable affinity". Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club 93 (6): 437–449. doi:10.2307/2483417. 
  2. ^ Bryophyte Specialist Group (2000). "Phycolepidozia exigua". 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php/39208/all. Retrieved 2007-08-23. 
  3. ^ Schuster, Rudolf M. (1969). The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America. II. New York: Columbia University Press. p. 4.