The sequences of the trnL, intron and 3 ' exon and trnL-trnF intron and spacer of the chloroplast DNA were studied in 47 hepatic species from Lophoziaccae (24 species) and fewer representatives of Scapaniaceae (7 spp.). Diplophyllaceac (3 spp.), Jungermanniaceae (7 spp.). Gymnomitriaceae (4 spp.). Mesoptychiaceac (1 sp.). and Cephaloziaceae (1 sp.). Analyses by parsimony, neighbor-joining, Bayesian, and metapopulation genetic algorithm gave similar results. Scapaniaceae are monophyletic and form a terminal clade within Lophoziaceae, whereas the latter (excluding Leiocolea and Hattoriella) form a paraphyletic grade. Leiocolea rutheana is found closely related to Mesoptychia, and species of Leiocolea and Mesoptychia form a well-supported clade nested within the Jungermanniaceae in parsimony and neighbor-joining analyses. Present results Support the usage of a narrow generic concept in Lophoziaceae and Jungermanniaceae.