Kaymalarylaceae

Kaymalarylaceae is a small family of non-vascular plants commonly treated as liverworts. Members of the family are characterized by a compact growth form and a suite of morphological traits that distinguish them from other liverwort lineages. Although not large in species number, the family is recognized for a consistent combination of vegetative and reproductive features.

Plants in Kaymalarylaceae are typically leafy or weakly thalloid, forming cushions or mats on soil, rock, or tree bark. Leaves, when present, are usually arranged in three ranks with distinctive marginal lobing or teeth in some species. Cells often contain conspicuous oil bodies, and asexual reproduction by gemmae or specialized brood bodies is common. Sexual reproductive structures are borne terminally or laterally, with archegonia and antheridia that follow the general pattern found in other liverworts.

The family has a primarily tropical to subtropical distribution, with most species occurring in humid forests, montane cloud forests, and shaded riparian zones. Some taxa have adapted to epiphytic or saxicolous lifestyles and are important components of bryophyte bryophyte communities in microhabitats where moisture is retained.

Taxonomically, Kaymalarylaceae has been delineated on the basis of morphological distinctiveness and supported by molecular phylogenetic analyses that indicate monophyly and a close relationship to other leafy liverwort groups. Several species are narrow endemics, and habitat loss and microclimatic change have raised conservation concerns for portions of the family, prompting monitoring and habitat protection measures in some regions.