Umbrella Liverwort

Umbrella Liverwort

Umbrella Liverwort

Umbrella Liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha) is a large liverwort with a wide distribution around the world. It is variable in appearance and has several subspecies. It is dioecious, having separate male and female plants. The plants produce umbrella-like reproductive structures known as gametophores. The gametophores of female plants consist of a stalk with star-like rays at the top. These contain archegonia, the organs which produce the ova. Male gametophores are topped by a flattened disc containing the antheridia which produce sperm. The leaf-like structure that covers the surface of the ground or container are called thalli (thallus in singular form). Liverworts are not vascular plants, but a more primitive life form similar to mosses. They do not have true leaves like most organisms we consider plants. Liverworts do not have flowers (and thus do not produce seed), instead they reproduce sexually by spores. They also do not have roots, they have rhizoids which are root-like structures that lack xylem and phloem. They produce the antifungal bis[bibenzyls] dihydrostilbenoids.