Radula marginata

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Species of liverwort

title: "Radula marginata" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["radulaceae", "flora-of-new-zealand"] description: "Species of liverwort" topic_path: "geography/new-zealand" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radula_marginata" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Species of liverwort ::

| status = D | status_system = NZTCS | genus = Radula | species = marginata | authority = (Hook.f. & Taylor) Gottsche, Lindenb. & Nees | synonyms =

Radula marginata, or wairuakohu, is a species of plant in the genus Radula, a genus of liverworts. It is endemic to New Zealand. It has been found to contain cannabinoids.

Cannabinoids

The main cannabinoids in Radula marginata are not THC or CBD, the most common psychoactive chemicals produced by cannabis, but they are of similar molecular structure. The liverwort contains perrottetinene and perrottetinenic acid. The proportion of cannabinoids present is much less than in cannabis. Perrottetinene has been shown to be a moderately potent CB1 agonist leading to mild psychoactive effects in mice.

Kaitiakitanga

Research on this taonga species has been carried out since 2017 by a multi-disciplinary international collaboration including a number of companies, research institutions and a collective of Māori communities represented by iwi organisations that have the plant growing in their tribal area, with a focus on exploring potential therapeutics derived from the cannabinoids.

A Charitable Trust was established by the three foundation iwi in 2024 to represent the interests of the plant and the ecosystems that support it. A website provides information on the project to tribal members, other iwi and anyone interested in the rights and responsibilities of Indigenous Peoples associated with the research and development activities.

Conservation status

In 2020 the official status of Radula marginata was changed by the Department of Conservation (New Zealand) to "At Risk – Declining" based on an observed decline of populations. The report said "Illegal collecting is causing local declines of R. marginata and loss of some populations."

Dr Richard Espley from Plant & Food Research discussed some of the conservation concerns during an interview with Anna Thomas on Radio New Zealand in January 2025.

References

References

  1. (2019). "Demystifying the liverwort Radula marginata, a critical review on its taxonomy, genetics, cannabinoid phytochemistry and pharmacology". Phytochemistry Reviews.
  2. (2013-05-21). "GBIF2550163". Discover Life.
  3. (2013-05-21). "GBIF2550057". Discover Life.
  4. (2002). "New bibenzyl cannabinoid from the New Zealand liverwort ''Radula marginata''". Chem Pharm Bull.
  5. (2018). "Identification of Putative Precursor Genes for the Biosynthesis of Cannabinoid-Like Compound in Radula marginata". Frontiers in Plant Science.
  6. (2024-12-23). "Unique bibenzyl cannabinoids in the liverwort Radula marginata: parallels with Cannabis chemistry". New Phytologist.
  7. (2018-10-01). "Uncovering the psychoactivity of a cannabinoid from liverworts associated with a legal high". Science Advances.
  8. Morton, Jamie. (16 January 2025). "This tiny native plant has cannabis-like properties – here's why that's exciting". NZ Herald.
  9. Thomas, Anna. (17 January 2025). "Native species of liverwort mimics medicinal cannabis effect". RNZ.

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