Sample #5: Marchantia polymorpha, Liverwort

Name: Marchantia polymopha

Common Name: Umbrella Liverwort

Family: Marchantiaceae

Collection Date: September 21, 2016

Habitat:  Located on rocks that were in the banks of river. Samples were growing on rocks and in the soil of the river bank.

Location: South Chagrin Reservation

Description:  Sample had large leaves that contained many conceptacles. Conceptacles did contain some gemmae, and  were extremely large and noticeable to the eye. The thallus also contained a large about of patterning visible to the eye.

Figure 1: Sample of Marchantia polymopha . 

Figure 2: The conceptacles of the organism. It is possible to see some gemmae in this sample. A closer look at the leaves is also available. Here we can see that the leaves have a distinct oval pattern across the surface. 

Key Used:  Field Key. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://rbg-web2.rbge.org.uk/bbs/Activities/BBS Field Guide Field Key.pdf

Keying Steps:

 Plant without distinct leaves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Thallose liverwort

5a. Thallus with gemmae in very obvious receptacles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

6a. Gemmae visible in open-topped receptacles; no gemmae on thallus tips; upper surface of thallus with raised pores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

7a. Gemmae in cup-shaped receptacles . . . . . . . Marchantia polymorpha