Marchantia polymorpha (A LIVERWORT) 



A. Classification: 



Division II. Bryophyta (moss-plants). 

 Class I. Hepaticae (liverworts). 

 Order. Marchantiales (marchantia-f orms) . 

 Family. Marchantiaceae. 

 Genus. Marchantia. 

 Species, polymorpha. 



THE GAMETOPHYTE 



B. Habitat: 



i. This plant grows very abundantly on the soil of 

 flower pots and benches in nearly all greenhouses. 

 In places it becomes a great annoyance to gardeners, 

 and is very difficult to get rid of. Out of doors it 

 grows in moist, shady places, frequently on rocky 

 ledges by streams. 



C. Naked-eye Characters: 



1. Examine first a non-" fruiting" specimen. 



2. Is the plant-body a thallus? Describe its color, 

 outline, and manner of branching. What term is 

 applied to this manner of branching? Does the 

 plant possess dorso-vertral differentiation? If so, 

 how are the dorsal and ventral surfaces distin- 

 guished? 



3. Note the texture of the plant, to be ascertained by 

 carefully breaking off a piece of fresh thallus. 



4. Describe the appearance of the dorsal surface. The 



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