CHAPTER XVI 
LIFE HISTORY OF A LIVERWORT 
192. Habitat. The group of plants ranking next below 
the mosses in the scale of life is the liverworts (Hepaticag) . 
They are widely distributed over the earth's surface; 
being found in a wide climatic range, but usually in moist 
situations. Some forms (e.g., Riccia natans) may grow 
floating on the surface of water, others (e.g., Riccia fluitans) 
FIG. 152. Anlhoceros fusiformis. Portion of lamellate, cristate thallus, 
which easily retains water. (After M. A. Howe.) 
submerged; but, as in mosses, no salt-water forms have 
been found. A few species grow on other plants (epi- 
phytic), or in other situations where the water supply 
may at times fall very low. Such forms have various 
contrivances which serve to retain water. Thus, some 
species of Anthoceros (e.g., A. fusiformis, A. fimbriatus) 
possess crisped lobes, forming a fringe around the margin 
which helps the plant to retain water (Figs. 152 and 
153). In another species (.4. punctatus), water is retained 
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