Liverworts

Question 1

What are the three orders of liverworts?

Answer 1

Marchantiales, Metzgeriales and Jungermanniales.

Question 2

Which two orders contain the thallose liverworts?

Answer 2

Marchantiales and Metzgeriales.

Question 3

Which order contains the leafy liverworts?

Answer 3

Jungermanniales.

Question 4

Name the three shared, derived characters (synapomorphies) of liverworts.

Answer 4

• presence of oil bodies in cells
• presence of elaters
• production of lunularic acid

Question 5

List some characteristic features of liverwort sporophytes.

Answer 5

• white seta (non-photosynthetic, entirely dependent on gametophyte for its nutrients)
• dark capsule (often brown or black), or sometimes yellowish
• capsule is very simple
• capsule is fully mature before the seta elongates
• capsule usually splits along 4 lines of weakness