Radula perrottetii is a species of plant in genus Radula, a genus of liverworts.[1][2] It is endemic in Japan.[3] It contains the small molecule perrottetinene a cannabinoid[4][5] and other secondary metabolites of scientific interest including marchantin A.
| Radula perrottetii | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Marchantiophyta |
| Class: | Jungermanniopsida |
| Order: | Porellales |
| Family: | Radulaceae |
| Genus: | Radula |
| Species: | R. perrottetii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Radula perrottetii | |
Description
editRadula perrottetii is a small plant that grows in an irregularly branching pattern. Its stem has a complex structure composed of 10–14 layers of cells when viewed in cross-section. The stem contains two distinct types of cells: an outer layer (cortex) of small, thick-walled brown cells, and an inner core (medulla) of larger, clear cells with reinforced corners called trigones.[6]
The leaves of R. perrottetii have two distinct parts: a larger upper lobe and a smaller lower lobule. The upper lobe is egg-shaped with a broadly rounded tip and smooth edges. It is large enough to completely cover the stem's width and sometimes extends beyond it. The leaf cells have thin walls but are strengthened at their corners with large nodular trigones. The lower lobule is triangular to egg-shaped and measures between one-third to one-half the length of the upper lobe. It covers about three-quarters of the stem's width or sometimes extends beyond it.[6]
When examined under a scanning electron microscope, the leaf surface shows fine, irregular grooves that connect to form a net-like pattern. This feature was not previously known, as it cannot be seen under a regular light microscope.[6]
The species does not produce reproductive structures called gemmae. Male reproductive structures (androecia) appear at the ends of branches with 5–12 pairs of overlapping specialized leaves called bracts.[6]
Habitat and distribution
editRadula perrottetii grows as an epiphyte (a plant that grows on other plants) in moist, shaded environments. It has been found in several Asian countries including: India (Eastern Himalayas, Western Ghats, Central India, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands), China, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, Taiwan, and Thailand. The species has been documented at various elevations, with specimens found as low as 35 meters above sea level in the Nicobar Islands.[6]
References
edit- ^ Tesso, Hailemichael; König, Wilfried A.; Asakawa, Yoshinori (2005). "Composition of the essential oil of the liverwort Radula perrottetii of Japanese origin". Phytochemistry. 66 (8): 941–949. doi:10.1016/j.phytochem.2005.03.003. PMID 15845412.
- ^ "Liverwort could prove to be more medically effective than cannabis, research suggests". ScienceDaily. US: ScienceDaily. Retrieved 2018-12-25.
- ^ "日本のレッドデータ検索システム". Jpnrdb.com.
- ^ Leman, Jennifer (14 November 2018). "This mosslike plant contains a painkiller similar to the one in marijuana". Science News.
- ^ "Piper methysticum". Genome.jp. Retrieved 26 December 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Singh, D. K.; Dey, Monalisa; Singh, Devendra (2016). "The genus Radula (Radulaceae, Marchantiophyta) in Andaman & Nicobar Islands, India". Journal of Bryology. 38 (3): 195–210. doi:10.1179/1743282015y.0000000032.