Liverwort  (Cephaloziella massalongi)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Biology

Liverworts, hornworts and mosses form a group of plants called bryophytes (3). Bryophytes lack many of the more complex structures of the higher plants, such as a vascular system, and flowers. They do not have roots, instead they have structures called 'rhizoids' which absorb water and anchor the plant to the substrate. In liverworts these rhizoids each consist of a single elongated cell (4). Bryophytes have an interesting life cycle, which consists of two main stages, called the gametophyte and sporophyte generations, the gametophyte generation is dominant. In the UK, Cephaloziella massalongi reproduces by producing special groups of cells called 'gemmae' (3) which develop into new plants (4). This species often occurs with C. nicholsonii, but it appears to be less resistant to dry conditions than the latter (3).

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