List of liverworts of South Africa

This listing contains taxa of plants in the division Marchantiophyta, recorded from South Africa. The Marchantiophyta are a division of non-vascular land plants commonly referred to as hepatics or liverworts. Like mosses and hornworts, they have a gametophyte-dominant life cycle, in which cells of the plant carry only a single set of genetic information.

It is estimated that there are about 9000 species of liverworts. Some of the more familiar species grow as a flattened leafless thallus, but most species are leafy with a form very much like a flattened moss. Leafy species can be distinguished from the apparently similar mosses on the basis of a number of features, including their single-celled rhizoids. Leafy liverworts also differ from most (but not all) mosses in that their leaves never have a costa (present in many mosses) and may bear marginal cilia (very rare in mosses). Other differences are not universal for all mosses and liverworts, but the occurrence of leaves arranged in three ranks, the presence of deep lobes or segmented leaves, or a lack of clearly differentiated stem and leaves all point to the plant being a liverwort.

Liverworts are typically small, usually from 2–20 mm wide with individual plants less than 10 cm long, and are therefore often overlooked. However, certain species may cover large patches of ground, rocks, trees or any other reasonably firm substrate on which they occur. They are distributed globally in almost every available habitat, most often in humid locations although there are desert and Arctic species as well.

23,420 species of vascular plant have been recorded in South Africa, making it the sixth most species-rich country in the world and the most species-rich country on the African continent. Of these, 153 species are considered to be threatened. Nine biomes have been described in South Africa: Fynbos, Succulent Karoo, desert, Nama Karoo, grassland, savanna, Albany thickets, the Indian Ocean coastal belt, and forests.

The 2018 South African National Biodiversity Institute's National Biodiversity Assessment plant checklist lists 35,130 taxa in the phyla Anthocerotophyta (hornworts (6)), Anthophyta (flowering plants(33534)), Bryophyta (mosses (685)), Cycadophyta (cycads (42)), Lycopodiophyta (Lycophytes(45)), Marchantiophyta (liverworts (376)), Pinophyta (conifers (33)), and Pteridophyta (cryptograms(408)).

Listing Acanthocoleus aberrans (Lindenb. & Gottsche) Kruijt, indigenous Acanthocoleus aberrans (Lindenb. & Gottsche) Kruijt var. laevis Gradst. indigenous Acanthocoleus chrysophyllus (Lehm.) Kruijt, indigenous Acanthocoleus madagascariensis (Steph.) Kruijt, indigenous Acrobolbus excisus (Mitt.) Schiffn. synonym Acrobolbus ochrophyllus (Hook.f. & Taylor) R.M.Schust. indigenous Acromastigum exile (Lindenb.) A.Evans, endemic Adelanthus decipiens (Hook.) Mitt. indigenous Adelanthus lindenbergianus (Lehm.) Mitt. indigenous Alobiella heteromorpha (Lehm.) Steph. Synonym Alobiella pillansii (Sim) S.W.Arnell, Synonym Alobiellopsis heteromorpha (Lehm.) R.M.Schust. indigenous Alobiellopsis pillansii (Sim) R.M.Schust. endemic Anastrophyllum auritum (Lehm.) Steph. indigenous Anastrophyllum minutum (Schreb.) R.M.Schust. indigenous Aneura pinguis (L.) Dumort. indigenous Aphanolejeunea capensis (S.W.Arnell) S.W.Arnell, indigenous Arachniopsis diacantha (Mont.) M.Howe, indigenous Archilejeunea elobulata Steph. indigenous Asterella abyssinica (Gottsche) Grolle, indigenous Asterella bachmannii (Steph.) S.W.Arnell, indigenous Asterella marginata (Nees) S.W.Arnell, endemic Asterella muscicola (Steph.) S.W.Arnell, indigenous Asterella wilmsii (Steph.) S.W.Arnell, indigenous Athalamia spathysii (Lindenb.) S.Hatt. indigenous Bazzania borbonica (Steph.) Steph. synonym Bazzania decrescens (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Trevis. indigenous Bazzania nitida (F.Weber) Grolle, indigenous Bazzania praerupta (Reinw., Blume & Nees) Trevis. indigenous Brachiolejeunea phyllorhiza (Nees) Kruijt & Gradst. indigenous Calypogeia arguta Nees & Mont. indigenous Calypogeia bidentula (F.Weber) Nees, indigenous Calypogeia fissa (L.) Raddi, indigenous Calypogeia fusca (Lehm.) Steph. synonym Calypogeia longifolia Steph. indigenous Calypogeia microstipula (Steph.) Steph. indigenous Caudalejeunea africana (Steph.) Steph. indigenous Caudalejeunea hanningtonii (Mitt.) Schiffn. indigenous Cephalozia bicuspidata (L.) Dumort. indigenous Cephalozia connivens (Dicks.) Lindb. indigenous Cephalozia connivens (Dicks.) Lindb. subsp. fissa (Steph.) Vana, indigenous Cephalozia fissa Steph. synonym Cephaloziella anthelioides S.W.Arnell, endemic Cephaloziella capensis (Sim) S.W.Arnell, endemic Cephaloziella garsidei S.W.Arnell, indigenous Cephaloziella kiaerii (Austin) Douin, indigenous Cephaloziella lycopodioides (Sim) S.W.Arnell, endemic Cephaloziella natalensis (Sim) S.W.Arnell, endemic Cephaloziella schelpei S.W.Arnell, endemic Cephaloziella tabularis S.W.Arnell, endemic Cephaloziella tenuissima (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Steph. indigenous Cephaloziella transvaalensis S.W.Arnell, indigenous Cephaloziella triplicata S.W.Arnell, endemic Chandonanthus hirtellus (F.Weber) Mitt. synonym Cheilolejeunea convexa (S.W.Arnell) S.W.Arnell, endemic Cheilolejeunea inflata Steph. synonym Cheilolejeunea intertexta (Lindenb.) Steph. indigenous Cheilolejeunea krakakammae (Lindenb.) R.M.Schust. indigenous Cheilolejeunea pluriplicata (Pearson) R.M.Schust. indigenous Cheilolejeunea pocsii E.W.Jones, indigenous Cheilolejeunea rufescens (Lindenb.) Grolle, indigenous Chiloscyphus muricatus (Lehm.) J.J.Engel & R.M.Schust. synonym Clasmatocolea fasciculata (Nees) Grolle, endemic Clasmatocolea vermicularis (Lehm.) Grolle, indigenous Cololejeunea cardiocarpa (Mont.) A.Evans, indigenous Cololejeunea dissita E.W.Jones, synonym Cololejeunea minutissima (Sm.) Schiffn. indigenous Cololejeunea minutissima (Sm.) Schiffn. subsp. minutissima, indigenous Cololejeunea minutissima (Sm.) Schiffn. subsp. myriocarpa (Nees & Mont.) R.M.Schust. indigenous Cololejeunea mocambiquensis S.W.Arnell, indigenous Cololejeunea myriantha (Herzog) S.W.Arnell, synonym Cololejeunea occidentalis (E.W.Jones) Vanden Berghen, indigenous Cololejeunea oleana Sim, endemic Colura calyptrifolia (Hook.) Dumort. indigenous Colura tenuicornis (A.Evans) Steph. indigenous Cryptochila grandiflora (Lindenb. & Gottsche) Grolle, indigenous Cylindrocolea atroviridis (Sim) Vana, indigenous Dicranolejeunea chrysophylla (Lehm.) Grolle, indigenous Dicranolejeunea madagascariensis Steph. synonym Dicranolejeunea phyllorhiza (Nees) Schiffn. synonym Diplasiolejeunea cavifolia Steph. synonym Diplasiolejeunea kraussiana (Lindenb.) Steph. indigenous Drepanolejeunea hamatifolia (Hook.) Schiffn. indigenous Drepanolejeunea papillosa S.W.Arnell, endemic Drepanolejeunea physaefolia (Gottsche) Steph. indigenous Drepanolejeunea vesiculosa (Mitt.) Steph. synonym Dumortiera hirsuta (Sw.) Nees, indigenous Exormotheca holstii Steph. indigenous Exormotheca megastomata Marquand, synonym Exormotheca pustulosa Mitt. indigenous Fossombronia capensis S.W.Arnell, indigenous Fossombronia capensis S.W.Arnell var. capensis, endemic Fossombronia capensis S.W.Arnell var. spiralis Perold, endemic Fossombronia cederbergensis Perold, endemic Fossombronia crispa Nees, indigenous Fossombronia densilamellata S.W.Arnell, endemic Fossombronia elsieae Perold, endemic Fossombronia gemmifera Perold, indigenous Fossombronia glenii Perold, indigenous Fossombronia hyalorhiza Perold, endemic Fossombronia leucoxantha Lehm. endemic Fossombronia marindae Perold, endemic Fossombronia montaguensis S.W.Arnell, endemic Fossombronia monticola Perold, endemic Fossombronia renateae Perold, endemic Fossombronia spinifolia Steph. endemic Fossombronia spinosa Perold, endemic Fossombronia straussiana Perold, indigenous Fossombronia swaziensis Perold, indigenous Fossombronia tumida Mitt. endemic Fossombronia zeyheri Steph. synonym Fossombronia zuurbergensis Perold, endemic Frullania anderssonii Angstr. indigenous Frullania arecae (Spreng.) Gottsche, indigenous Frullania brunnea (Spreng.) Gottsche, Lindenb. & Nees, indigenous Frullania caffraria Steph. indigenous Frullania capensis Gottsche, indigenous Frullania depressa Mitt. indigenous Frullania diptera (Lehm.) Drege, indigenous Frullania ecklonii (Spreng.) Gottsche, Lindenb. & Nees, indigenous Frullania eplicata Steph. indigenous Frullania ericoides (Nees) Mont. indigenous Frullania lindenbergii Lehm. indigenous Frullania obscurifolia Mitt. indigenous Frullania serrata Gottsche, indigenous Frullania socotrana Mitt. indigenous Frullania spongiosa Steph. indigenous Frullania trinervis (Lehm.) Drege, indigenous Frullania variegata Steph. indigenous Frullanoides tristis (Steph.) Van Slageren, indigenous Gongylanthus ericetorum (Raddi) Nees, indigenous Gongylanthus renifolius (Mitt.) Steph. indigenous Gongylanthus scariosus (Lehm.) Steph. indigenous Gottschea sphagnoides (Schwagr.) Lindb. indigenous Gymnocoleopsis capensis (S.W.Arnell) R.M.Schust. endemic Gymnomitrion andinum (Herzog) Herzog, endemic Gymnomitrion laceratum (Steph.) T.Horik. indigenous Herbertus capensis (Steph.) Sim, indigenous Herbertus dicranus (Taylor ex Gottsche et al.) Trevis. indigenous Heteroscyphus dubius (Gottsche) Schiffn. indigenous Hyalolepidozia bicuspidata (C.Massal.) S.W.Arnell ex Grolle, indigenous Isotachis aubertii (Schwagr.) Mitt. indigenous Jamesoniella colorata (Lehm.) Schiffn. indigenous Jamesoniella grandiflora (Lindenb. & Gottsche) Steph. synonym Jamesoniella oenops (Lindenb. & Gottsche) Steph. synonym Jamesoniella paludosa Steph. synonym Jamesoniella purpurascens Steph. indigenous Jamesoniella rehmannii Steph. synonym Jensenia spinosa (Lindenb. & Gottsche) Grolle, indigenous Jungermannia austroafricana S.W.Arnell, synonym Jungermannia borgenii Gottsche ex Pearson, indigenous Jungermannia mildbraedii Steph. indigenous Jungermannia pocsii Vana, indigenous Jungermannia pumila With. indigenous Jungermannia sphaerocarpa Hook. indigenous Jungermannia stolonifera Steph. synonym Kurzia capillaris (Sw.) Grolle, indigenous Kurzia capillaris (Sw.) Grolle subsp. capillaris, Kurzia irregularis (Steph.) Grolle, indigenous Lejeunea brittoniae (A.Evans) Grolle, synonym Lejeunea caespitosa Lindenb. indigenous Lejeunea capensis Gottsche, indigenous Lejeunea duncaniae (Sim) S.W.Arnell, endemic Lejeunea eckloniana Lindenb. indigenous Lejeunea helenae Pearson, indigenous Lejeunea isophylla E.W.Jones, indigenous Lejeunea phyllobola Nees & Mont. indigenous Lejeunea rhodesiae (Sim) R.M.Schust. indigenous Lejeunea tabularis (Spreng.) Gottsche, Lindenb. & Nees, indigenous Lejeunea villaumei (Steph.) Grolle, indigenous Lepicolea ochroleuca (Spreng.) Spruce, indigenous Lepidozia cupressina (Sw.) Lindenb. indigenous Lepidozia cupressina (Sw.) Lindenb. subsp. cupressina, indigenous Lepidozia cupressina (Sw.) Lindenb. subsp. natalensis (Steph.) Pocs, indigenous Lepidozia pearsonii Spruce, indigenous Lepidozia stuhlmannia Steph. indigenous Lepidozia stuhlmannia Steph. subsp. stuhlmannia, indigenous Leptocolea cristata (Steph.) E.W.Jones, synonym Leptoscyphus diversifolius (Gottsche) Grolle, endemic Leptoscyphus expansus (Lehm.) Grolle, indigenous Leptoscyphus iversenii (Pearson) Sim, synonym Lethocolea congesta (Lehm.) S.W.Arnell, indigenous Leucolejeunea rotundistipula (Lindenb. ex Lehm.) A.Evans, indigenous Leucolejeunea unciloba (Lindenb.) A.Evans, indigenous Leucolejeunea xanthocarpa (Lehm. & Lindenb.) A.Evans, indigenous Lophocolea bewsii (Sim) Grolle, indigenous Lophocolea bidentata (L.) Dumort. indigenous Lophocolea concreta Mont. indigenous Lophocolea difformis Nees, indigenous Lophocolea fragrans (Moris & De Not.) Gottsche, Lindenb. & Nees, indigenous Lophocolea lucida (Spreng. ex Lehm.) Mont. indigenous Lophocolea martiana Nees, indigenous Lophocolea muricata (Lehm.) Nees, indigenous Lophocolea semiteres (Lehm.) Mitt. indigenous Lopholejeunea fragilis Steph. synonym Lopholejeunea nigricans (Lindenb.) Schiffn. indigenous