Aspiromitus punctatus (L.) Schljakov var. agrestis (Paton) R.M. Schust.
A. crispulus non (Mont.) Douin
Anthoceros constans Lindb.
Anthoceros husnotii Steph.
Anthoceros longicapsulus Steph.
Anthoceros multilobulus Lindb.
Anthoceros punctatus var. cavernosus (Nees) Gottsche Lindenb. & Nees
Aspiromitus punctatus agrestis agrestis (Paton) R. M. Schust.
Anthoceros agrestis, commonly called field hornwort,[1][3] is a bryophyte of the family Anthocerotaceae. A. agrestis is considered the model species for hornwort biology [4] and is used to study some of the unique traits that hornworts possess, such as their symbiotic relationship with nostoc and their use of pyrenoids to enhance photosynthesis [5].
A specimen of Anthoceros agrestis in Schwäbisch-Fränkische Waldberge, Deutschland.
Description
Anthoceros agrestis grows as a thin, dark green, rosette-like thallus up to 1.5 cm (0.6 in) in diameter, superficially resembling a leafless liverwort. The surface is punctured with hollows containing the male organs. The spore-producing bodies lack a stalk or capsule but produce erect, cylindrical structures that turn black as they mature. They then split open to reveal the spore-bearing central spindle and release the black spores.[6]
Distribution and habitat
This hornwort has a circum-boreal distribution across temperate Europe and North America.[7] It is a lowland species found in moist soil in arable fields and ditches. It is listed as vulnerable in the Irish Red Data Book as it is known from fewer than five locations in the country. It occurs at a single location in Northern Ireland, in County Down, and because of its rarity there, it is listed as a Northern Ireland Priority Species.[6]
Chemistry
This species of Anthoceros is known for having enzymes like cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (EC 1.14.13.11), a cytochrome P450-dependent hydroxylase. It is one of the first known plant cytochrome P450 monooxygenases and also one of the best-characterized cytochrome P450 hydroxylases from higher plants.[8]
Production of rosmarinic acid and a rosmarinic acid 3'-O-beta-D-glucoside in suspension cultures of this hornwort was also discovered in 2005.[9]
Anthocerodiazonin, an alkaloid, was isolated from in vitro cultures of the species. Also, six glutamic acid amides, N-(4-hydroxybenzoyl)-glutamic acid, N-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)-glutamic acid, N-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoyl)-glutamic acid, (E)-N-(isoferuloyl)-glutamic acid, (Z)-N-(isoferuloyl)-glutamic acid and (Z)-N-(p-coumaroyl)-glutamic acid were obtained as natural products.[10]
^Edwards, Sean R. (2012). English Names for British Bryophytes. British Bryological Society Special Volume. Vol. 5 (4 ed.). Wootton, Northampton: British Bryological Society. ISBN978-0-9561310-2-7. ISSN0268-8034.
^Szövényi, P., Frangedakis, E., Ricca, M., Quandt, D., Wicke, S., Langdale, J. A. (9 April 2015). "Establishment of Anthoceros agrestis as a model species for studying the biology of hornworts". BMC plant biology. 15: 98. ISSN1471-2229.
^Robison, T. A., Oh, Z. G., Lafferty, D., Xu, X., Villarreal, J. C. A., Gunn, L. H., Li, F.-W. (3 January 2025). "Hornworts reveal a spatial model for pyrenoid-based CO2-concentrating mechanisms in land plants". Nature Plants. Nature Publishing Group: 1–11. doi:10.1038/s41477-024-01871-0. ISSN2055-0278.
^"Anthoceros agrestis". Liverworts of New Brunswick. University of New Brunswick. Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
^Petersen, M. (18 January 2003). "Cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase from cell cultures of the hornwort Anthoceros agrestis". Planta. 217 (1): 96–101. doi:10.1007/s00425-002-0960-9. PMID12721853.
^Vogelsang, K.; Schneider B.; Petersen M. (20 August 2005). "Production of rosmarinic acid and a new rosmarinic acid 3'-O-beta-D-glucoside in suspension cultures of the hornwort Anthoceros agrestis Paton". Planta. 223 (2): 369–73. doi:10.1007/s00425-005-0089-8. PMID16133208.
^Becker, H.; Burkharda G.; Trennheuser F. (3 February 1994). "Anthocerodiazonin an alkaloid from Anthoceros agrestis". Phytochemistry. 37 (3): 899–903. doi:10.1016/S0031-9422(00)90380-7.
