Liverworts or Hepatics 



A veil (calyptra) surrounds the spore-case. 



A false perianth surrounds the veil. 



A fringed covering (involucre) encloses all the spore-cases 

 between two lobes. When the spore-case is mature, it bursts 

 irregularly for the scattering of the spores. 



The spore germinates to form one cell or a small group of 

 cells (protonemd) from which later will be developed the plant 

 already described. 



Marchantia polymorpha. Vertical sec- 

 tion of male receptacle. See pags 94. 



Marchantia polymorpha. Vertical section of 

 Antheridium from male receptacle. Sperm 

 cells at the right. 



Marchantia polymorpha, (L.) 



Habit and habitat. Along wet banks, in bogs, beside 

 streams, about green-houses, and on damp ashes on the shady 

 side of houses. 



Name. The generic name Marchantia was given by the son 

 in honour of his father, Nicholas Marchant, a French botanist 

 who died in 1678. The specific name polymorpha is com- 

 pounded of the Greek, 73-0X1)9, many, and popfyr], form. 



Plant (gametophyte) . Peculiar dull-green, with broad ribbon- 

 shaped thallus generally once or twice forked. Costa or mid- 

 vein broad. Upper surface divided off into rhomboidal spaces 

 (areolce). One stoma or pore in the centre of each rhomboidal 

 space. Gemmae cups, saucer-shaped with toothed margins, 

 are often present. 



95 



