| Lepicoleaceae | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Marchantiophyta |
| Class: | Jungermanniopsida |
| Order: | Lepidoziales |
| Family: | Lepicoleaceae R.M.Schust. [1] |
| Synonyms | |
VetaformataceaeFulford et J.Taylor, 1963 | |
Lepicoleaceae is a family of liverworts belonging to the order Jungermanniales. [2]
Natural compounds, lignans, have been found in liverworts in the Lepicoleaceae family. [3]
Genera: [2]
Lepicoleaceae is a family of bryophyte plants, constituted by one genus, Lepicolea Dumort, pertaining to the order Jungermanniopsida. [4] In Brazil, its distribution is restricted to the area of Atlantic forest of Santa Catarina, but it can also be encountered in other countries of Latin America, like Peru and Chile, and on other continents, like Africa. [5] In general, they are present in regions of Atlantic forest and in mixed forest vegetation of the type which prefers shade and humidity, where there is a substrate of trees and branches. They are hepatics of medium size, being green, brown or reddish, and they possess a leafy life form. It is considered a primitive family of Hepaticae, and which associates itself with different vegetal families. [4]
They are median hepatics, ascending, erect or hanging which can present green, brown or reddish colour. In some cases, they can possess a base lying flat like a rhizome, ramified irregularly, their stems are characterised by a transverse section without explicit differentiation between the cortical and interior cells. The rhizoids when present are dispersed in tufts in the base of the leafy appendages or in the undifferentiated matter. They are dioecious, with gametocytes in elongated shoots and antheridia on the axis of the bracts. The sporophyte is wrapped in a perianth and its vegetal reproduction is unknown. In addition, they may possess ventral branches, often flagelliform, and transverse or interleaved. [4]
Lepicoleaceae have been considered a primitive family in the Hepaticae being able to be associated with the Ptilidiaceae and Mastigophoraceae families. Little is known about the chemical components present in plants of this group, there being two of them: frullanolide and dihydrofrullanolide, identified as principal components. Later was related the presence of sesquiterpenoide ledol, sesquiterpenoides of type aromadendrene and seco-aromadendrene were also identified. [6]
Its distribution is native, not endemic to Brazil. It occurs in the Atlantic forest and mixed vegetation of the forest which prefers shade and humidity, with geographic distribution in the south of the country, in the state of Santa Catarina. [4] In Brazil, only one species pertaining to the Lepicoleaceae family named Lepicolea ochroleuca (Spreng.) Spruce was registered. Brazilian state where occurrence of the Lepicoleaceae family was registered: Santa Catarina. The species L. ramenrifissa, L. rigida and L. ochroleuca occur in Central and South America, L. ochroleuca also can be encountered on the African continent. The species L. scolopendra has been registered in Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Oceania and South America. In Asia, L. yakusimensis and L. loriana have been registered, which beyond Asia occur in Oceania. To finish, L. attenuata occurs in New Zealand and L.pruinosa in the Andes. [7]