Liverworts – Division Marchantiophyta
Print
Email(Division Marchantiophyta)
Life cycle
Mat-forming, annual spore-producing plants.
General description
Prostrate and spreading plants that often grow together to form thick mats on the surface of excessively moist soils. The foliage is not obviously differentiated into true leaves, stems or roots. Plants have rootlike rhizoids, which are not true roots but have similar functions. Small, round to crescent-shaped cups are formed on the foliage. These cups produce budlike structures that are dispersed by water to form new plants. Reproduction also occurs by spores released from palm-treelike structures. No true flowers or fruit are produced.
Foliage
Thick, dull green, ribbonlike foliage with lobed to forked margins.
Reproduction
Vegetatively and by spores.
Other Documents in this Series
You Might Also Be Interested In
-
Do your part to protect water quality
Published on February 21, 2012
-
What can you do to help protect your lake?
Published on September 30, 2015
-
Inland lake habitats critical to maintaining healthy lake ecosystems
Published on July 21, 2024
-
A native Michigan shoreline: We did it, so can you! Part 2
Published on September 19, 2018
-
Explore Michigan’s inland lakes during Lake Appreciation Month
Published on July 8, 2015
-
Learn about Michigan’s lakes online
Published on September 19, 2017
Accessibility Questions:
For questions about accessibility and/or if you need additional accommodations for a specific document, please send an email to ANR Communications & Marketing at anrcommunications@anr.msu.edu.