The present volume comprises the first part of the treatment of the
liverworts (Marchantiophyta) in the Flora of Central Africa region (Democratic
Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi). It contains a brief introduction on
the morphology and classification of liverworts, a key to the classses and subclasses,
and a detailed treatment of the class Haplomitriopsida and the order
Jungermanniales
of the class Marchantiopsida. Keys, morphological descriptions
and illustrations are provided for 97 species, in 19 families and 45 genera,
with emphasis on characters used for their recognition. In addition, data on distribution,
habitat, representative specimens and additional literature are given.
Calypogeia annabonensis, Gongylanthus scariosus and Plagiochila corrugata
are newly reported from Central Africa and P. strictifolia is new to Rwanda. The
records of Lepidozia pearsonii, Lophocolea fragrans and Telaranea coactilis
from Central Africa are rejected and the occurrence of Lepidozia reptans in
Africa is considered doubtful. Left-right symmetry in the position of underleaves
to lateral leaves is newly recorded in the genus Bazzania. Sixty two species are
illustrated with line drawings and 20 with photographs.