Liverwort gametangia and sporophytes

 

Liverworts are common around stream banks and trail edges at Las Cruces.  They form large, mats along steep banks.  Some, including the one below, have  gamete-producing structures projecting from their flat “leaves”.  From these dome-like gametangia, hair like projections (sporophytes) hang and release spores to begin the next generation.Liverwort sporophyte - 20130630 - 4

Liverwort sporophyte - 20130630 - 3

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.