Tree Hugger

  Riccia  Kingdom: Plantae Division: Marchantiophyta Class: Marchantiopsida Order: Marchantiales Family: Ricciaceae Genus: Riccia External Morphology  • Dorsiventrally differentiated, prostrate, fleshy thallus showing dichotomous branching to form rosettes  • Each branch of the thallus is either wedge-shaped or linear  • The dorsal surface of the green, fleshy thallus is generally thick in the centre and gradually becomes thinner towards the margin  • Middle portion has a median groove or furrow on the dorsal surface running through the entire length of the thallus and is termed the midrib  • At the distal end of the dorsal groove, lies an apical notch or a depression which protects the growing point  Rhizoids • The ventral surface of the thallus shows numerous, unicellular rhizoids that not only help in attaching the thallus to the substratum but also help in the uptake of water and minerals  • Rhizoids are of two types: smooth-walled and tu...

  MARCHANTIA              Kingdom: Plantae Division: Marchantiophyta Class: Marchantiopsida Order: Marchantiales Family: Marchantiaceae Genus: Marchantia  Characteristics The common habitat is moist and shady places. The plant body is thalloid. The thallus is dorsiventral, flat and dichotomously branched. The gametophyte is the dominant phase of plant life. The dorsal surface contains diamond-shaped markings, which has central pore in the middle for gaseous exchange. There are chambers present internally beneath the polygonal markings. The ventral surface contains scales and rhizoids. The rhizoids are unicellular and the root-like structure. The main function is to anchor the plant to the substratum and absorb water and minerals. The reproductive bodies are present on the dorsal surface. They bear a cup-shaped structure called gemmae for asexual reproduction. Sexual reproductive organs are born on the stalks called antheridiophore and...

LUNULARIA            DIVISION: BRYOPHYTA CLASS: HEPATICOPSIDA ORDER: MARCHANTIALES FAMILY: LUNULARIACEAE                                         GENUS: LUNULARIA (CRESCENT CUP LIVERWORT)   G ENERAL CHARACTERS • PLANTS WITH AIR CHAMBERS AND PORES ON THE DORSAL SURFACE   • CAPSULE HAS INVOLUCRE   • PLANT WITH GEMMAE CUP ON ITS DORSAL SURFACE   • GEMMAE CUPS ARE SEMI LUNATE IN SHAPE   • THE NAME LUNULARIA REFERS TO MOON SHAPED CUPS   • THE THALLUS IS GREEN OR YELLOWISH GREEN   • THE THALLUS IS GLOSSY AND HAVE A POLYGONAL AREAS WITH A CENTRAL AIR PORE   • VENTRAL SURFACE OF THE THALLUS BEARS ROW OF DELICATE HYALINE OR PARTIALLY PURPISH SCALES ON EACH SIDE OF THE MEDIAN LINE   • MIDDILE OF THE SCALE IS   A HYALINE PARTIALLY PURPISH APPENDAGE OF CIRCULAR TO RENIFORM SHAPE   • SMOOTH WALLED AND TUBERCULA...