Gephaceae

Gephaceae is a family of liverworts, a group of non-vascular land plants within the bryophyte lineage. The family is small and comprises several genera of leafy liverworts.

Most Gephaceae species are small, ground-hugging plants that inhabit moist, shaded environments such as forest floors, stream banks, and decaying wood, especially in temperate to boreal zones.

Morphologically, members are leafy liverworts with dorsiventrally flattened thalli. Leaves are usually arranged in two ranks along the stems, and the margins may bear teeth or be largely entire; oil bodies and specialized cells in the leaves are common features used in identification.

Reproduction involves the haploid gametophyte producing archegonia and antheridia, with sporophytes developing on archegoniophores. Asexual reproduction occurs via fragmentation or gemmae in some species, contributing to local spread and persistence in suitable microhabitats.

Taxonomy and phylogeny have seen changes in classifications over time. The circumscription of Gephaceae has varied across bryophyte systems, and advances in molecular phylogenetics have prompted reevaluation of relationships among leafy liverwort families, leading to updates in how Gephaceae is placed within broader groupings.

Distribution and conservation notes indicate a temperate bias with scattered occurrences in some tropical regions. Because Gephaceae species can be small and inconspicuous, they are often under-recorded in general bryophyte surveys, and habitat disturbance can impact local populations.

See also: Liverworts, Bryophytes, List of liverwort genera.