LIVERWORTS 



307 



near the apex, which protect the growing point. The plant 

 is diceceous (or heterothallic, see paragraph 407), some of 



Fig. 281. 

 Marchantia plant with cupules and gemmae; rhizoids below. 



them being male and others female. The plant propagates 

 asexually by brood buds developed in little cups with a fringed 

 edge, formed on separate plants (fig. 281). Each of these buds is 

 a miniature thallus of Marchantia, with a growing point in a 

 notch at two opposite points in the flattened nearly circular bud. 



II 



Fig. 282. 



Section of antheridial receptacle from male plant of Marchantia polymorpha, showing 

 cavities where the antheridia are borne. 



