''Cryptothallus'' is a previously recognized

genus Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...

liverworts Liverworts are a group of non-vascular plant, non-vascular embryophyte, land plants forming the division Marchantiophyta (). They may also be referred to as hepatics. Like mosses and hornworts, they have a gametophyte-dominant life cycle, in wh ...

in the

family Family (from ) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictabili ...

Aneuraceae. The plants are small, and are white to pale green as a result of lacking

chlorophyll Chlorophyll is any of several related green pigments found in cyanobacteria and in the chloroplasts of algae and plants. Its name is derived from the Greek words (, "pale green") and (, "leaf"). Chlorophyll allows plants to absorb energy ...

. This feature led to the creation of a separate genus. The

morphology Morphology, from the Greek and meaning "study of shape", may refer to: Disciplines *Morphology (archaeology), study of the shapes or forms of artifacts *Morphology (astronomy), study of the shape of astronomical objects such as nebulae, galaxies, ...

of species assigned to ''Cryptothallus'' is very similar to that of '' Aneura''. As a result, Karen Renzaglia in 1982 suggested that the only species then placed in the genus, ''Cryptothallus mirabilis'', may be considered "merely as an achlorophyllous species of ''Aneura''." Wickett and Goffinet argued the same position on the basis of sequences of nuclear, mitochondrial, and plastid DNA, and moved ''Cryptothallus mirabilis'' to ''Aneura''. A 2010

molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...

study confirmed the position of ''Cryptothallus'' within ''Aneura''. This was accepted in the 2016 world checklist of hornworts and liverworts.

Species

Two species were formerly placed in the genus. *''Cryptothallus mirabilis'' Malmb., now a synonym of '' Aneura mirabilis'' (Malmb.) Wickett & Goffinet *''Cryptothallus hirsutus'' H.A.Crum, now a synonym of '' Aneura crumii'' L.Söderstr.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q5191074 Metzgeriales Parasitic plants Historically recognized plant genera