Austral Hepaticae 1

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The proliferation of species, often misclassified in the wrong genera, has significantly affected taxonomic work in 20th-century hepaticology. Many species have been described under multiple genera, with some genera, like Lepidolejeunea, encompassing up to 12. A critical need exists for a synthesis to define families, genera, and subgenera, a task not undertaken for over a century. This work addresses that need by synthesizing knowledge gained primarily in the latter half of the 20th century regarding liverwort classification. It emphasizes modern criteria for defining suborders, families, and genera, focusing on features largely overlooked before 1950, such as ramification patterns, capsule wall anatomy, and oil-bodies. The author provides 211 figures to illustrate these features and the basic aspects of each genus, primarily studying living plants. Key genera, including Lepidozia and Pseudocephalozia, are highlighted. While species diagnoses are not attempted, generic boundaries are established by illustrating several species per genus, with keys provided for larger genera. The author’s extensive fieldwork across diverse regions has enabled a deep understanding of these organisms as living entities, contrasting with traditional herbarium-based studies. This approach aims to convey a sense of the taxa as vibrant, living organisms.