Marchantia polymorpha, sometimes known as the common liverwort or umbrella liverwort, is a large liverwort with a wide distribution around the world. It is variable in appearance and has several subspecies. It is dioicous, having separate male and female plants.

Traditionally, the liverworts were grouped together with other bryophytes (mosses and hornworts) in the Division Bryophyta, within which the liverworts made up the class Hepaticae (also called Marchantiopsida).

Liverworts are a group of non-vascular plants similar to mosses. They are far different to most plants we generally think about because they do not produce seeds, flowers, fruit or wood, and even lack vascular tissue. Instead of seeds, liverworts produce spores for reproduction.

Although leafy liverworts are (like most bryophytes) typically perennial, their substrata are often “temporary” on a scale of years (fields, flood plains), decades (logs), or centuries (old-growth trees).

Other Non-Flowering Plants. Unlike Gymnosperms, all of these other non-flowering plants reproduce using spores; they do not produce seeds. Examples of some of the most commonly known non-flowering plants are ferns, mosses and liverworts.

When taken by mouth: Fresh liverwort is LIKELY UNSAFE. It can cause side effects such as diarrhea, stomach irritation, and kidney and urinary tract irritation.

A chemical found in liverwort has surprising similarities to the THC in marijuana. REPORTING FROM GENEVA — It’s an “amazing plant” that produces “hypnotic effects,” according to online testimonials. Some people who have ingested it or inhaled its smoke say it gave them a mild, marijuana-like high.

Several chemical herbicides, such as flumioxazin, quinoclamine and sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate, are effective against liverwort, especially if the infestation is not very large. Flumioxazin is available in granular form; it is only recommended for field or nursery container plants and not for indoor use.

Liverworts can be controlled to some extent by improving air circulation around the plant – prune out any overcrowded branches and remove excess vegetation growing around the affected plant. Improve the overall growing conditions for the plant to improve its strength.

Liverworts can spread and propagate themselves with tiny sexually-produced spores and asexual propagules. The flat green leaf-like body of the liverwort spreads horizontally across the media surface by dividing into two branches at apical notches.

Liverworts are distributed worldwide, though most commonly in the tropics. Thallose liverworts, which are branching and ribbonlike, grow commonly on moist soil or damp rocks, while leafy liverworts are found in similar habitats as well as on tree trunks in damp woods.

Complex thalloids

The term liverwort originated from the fact that the early herbalists thought that one of the liverworts had some resemblance to a liver – and some use as medicine for liver ailments. Hence the word liverwort for a “liver-like small plant”.

Liverworts grow in thin, lobed sheets along the ground. Algae are simple, freshwater plants that thrive in frequently wet conditions. Algae may be found growing on wet, compacted soil that is high in nitrogen and organic matter. Both mosses and liverworts grow best in moist, shady areas with acid soil.

Algae control in cooling pads is generally achieved with chemicals, especially the quaternary ammonium compounds. Algae, moss or liverworts can form thick mats on the soil surface in pots. Algae or moss buildup on walkways creates unsightly and dangerous conditions (footing can be slippery).

Myth 1: Moss is slippery and dangerous to walk on when wet. Moss itself is not slippery, but in some circumstances, moss can grow alongside algae or lichen (which has a symbiotic relationship with algae).

On the upper surface of the gametophytes of some thalloid liverworts, such as Marchantia, are specialized structures called gemma cups, which contain propagules called gemmae (Figure 3.11, 3.12B). Other leafy liverworts are more erect, with the three rows of leaves similar.

Leafy liverworts always have two lateral rows of leaves, and sometimes a row of leaves on the ventral side (bottom) of the stem, which are called underleaves. Another distinguishing feature of liverwort leaves is the presence of lobes.

Botanically, mosses are non-vascular plants in the land plant division Bryophyta. They are small (a few centimeters tall) herbaceous (non-woody) plants that absorb water and nutrients mainly through their leaves and harvest carbon dioxide and sunlight to create food by photosynthesis.

Hornworts and liverworts belong to a group of organisms called bryophytes, which are in the plant kingdom and so are quite distinct from anything fungal. Here (right) is a photo of a hornwort. Growing along the ground is a flat, green sheet, often lobed just like a foliose lichen.

Encouraging growth Algae, lichens, liverworts and mosses all require a moist environment to reproduce so keeping the area damp and shaded will encourage them to flourish. When transplanting mosses and liverworts, keep them wet at all times. Never take mosses from the wild, or without the landowner’s permission.

Lichens grow on any undisturbed surface–bark, wood, mosses, rock, soil, peat, glass, metal, plastic, and even cloth. Lichens have their favorite places to grow. For instance, a lichen that grows on bark will rarely be found on stone. Lichens can absorb water through any part of their thalli and have no need of roots.

Lichens need clean, fresh air to survive. They absorb everything through their cortex. From beneficial nutrients to harmful toxins, lichens absorb it all. They also absorb water in the air, which is why so many are found in fog belts along oceans and big lakes.

Lichen is rarely found on healthy, vigorous trees. Lichen loves sunlight and moisture, so it is often found in sunny, wet spots. To reiterate: the lichen is in no way harming your tree, but the presence of lichen may point to an unhealthy or dying tree (caused by other reasons, such as pests or disease).

There are three main types of lichens:

• Foliose.
• Fruticose.
• Crustose.

Lichens often have a regular but very slow growth rate of less than a millimeter per year. In crustose lichens, the area along the margin is where the most active growth is taking place. Most crustose lichens grow only 1–2 mm in diameter per year.

1. Lichens that produce leaf-like, two dimensional, flattened, lobed thalli with upper and lower surfaces that grow in layers are known as foliose lichens. 2. The lower surface of crustose lichens attaches firmly to many surfaces and forms brightly colored patches of a thick, rough naturalized texture.

Most lichens grow slowly, probably because they live in environments where water is available for only short periods. They tend to live for many years, and lichens hundred of years old can be used to date the rock surfaces on which they grow. Lichens spread mostly by small pieces of their body being blown around.

Age can be determined by multiplying the lichen diameter by the known growth rate.