12/4/2019
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Systematics and Evolution (HA)
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https://www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/program/ha/ha-liverwort-hornwort.html
Systematics and Evolution - Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research
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Systematics and Evolution (HA)
Bryophytes
Liverwort and Hornwort studies
Project Leader: Christine Cargill
This is a brief introduction for those who are perhaps unfamiliar
with bryophytes. The mosses, liverworts and hornworts were
traditionally lumped together under the division Bryophyta, as a
consequence of these plants sharing very similar habit and life
cycles. In general they are small herbaceous plants with an
alternating life cycle consisting of a dominant, persistent
vegetative gametophyte, and a short-lived sporophyte which is
nutritionally dependent upon the gametophyte. More recently
they have come to be recognised as three distinct divisions or Young sporophytes of hornwort Phaoeceros
phyla, arising from three distinct ancestors. They are now
known as the Bryophyta (mosses) the Marchantiophyta (liverworts) and the Anthocerotophyta
(hornworts). The liverworts are in turn divided into two morphologically and developmentally distinct
groups. These are the leafy liverworts, which as the name suggests possess a simple stem and two or
three rows of leaves; closely related to the leafy liverworts are the simple thalloids, which in some taxa
may appear leafy but many are thalloid in appearance. The second distinct group are the complex
thalloids, whereby the thallus is differentiated into distinct layers with airpores on the upper surface. My
research interests lie with the thalloid liverworts and the hornworts.
My previous research involved a partial revision of the simple thalloid liverwort suborder
Fossombroniineae, revising the genus Fossombronia and Sewardiella for Australia, Africa, Southwest
Asia (the Middle East) and the subcontinent of India. Future projects will look into the taxonomy,
phylogeny and phylogeography of the genus Fossombronia as well as the suborder.
Spore patterns in some groups of liverworts and hornworts have traditionally been important in the
identification of species. With the advent of molecular techniques, these characters have been tested for
their reliability to predict species delimitations.
I am continuing my research within the Fossombroniineae. One of the aims of my research is to test the
robustness of spore patterns in the determination of species within Fossombronia. In particular I am also
interested in the biogeography of the group comparing taxa found in eastern Australia with those which
appear to be conspecific in western Australia.
I am also working towards a revision of the Australian taxa of hornworts combining both morphological
and molecular data. While the generic boundaries within the hornworts are becoming clearer with the
increased utilization of molecular data within the group, species boundaries are still ambiguous. I am
presently revising the genus Megaceros for Australasia using both morphology and molecular data.
2008 Report
Sequence data of populations of Megaceros from eastern Australia, Lord Howe Island and New
Caledonia were completed. Additional sequences were included for plants from Tasmania, Macquarie
Island, New Zealand and Central America. Analysis of molecular data supported the occurrence of two
species in Australia – the widespread M. pellucidus which occurs throughout temperate eastern
Australia and high altitude areas of tropical Queensland and M. flagellaris which is restricted to the
lowland tropics of Queensland, South East Asia and the Pacific Islands.
Sequence data has now also been obtained for populations of hornworts within the genus Phaeoceros
and from the liverwort genus Fossombronia to determine species boundaries and relationships within
Australian taxa. This dataset will be combined with the morphology of these groups to clarify species
and to produce keys and detailed descriptions of taxa.
Scientific and Technical Staff ^ CSIRO Canberra
* Tropical Herbarium, Cairns
# SEWPaC (ANBG)
PROGRAM LEADER
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12/4/2019 Systematics and Evolution - Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research
Cargill, Christine # (PDF) = Postdoctoral Fellowship
(HRF) = Honorary Research Fellows
STAFF, HONORARY ASSOCIATES & STUDENTS (PhD) = Graduate Students

Curnow, Judith #
Lepp, Heino (HRF)#

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