Marchantia: Is a non-vascular plant

Marchantia is a non-vascular plant that belongs to the division Bryophyta. It reproduces by asexual and sexual means, and has a complex life cycle involving alternation of generations. Marchantia is a genus of bryophytes that belong to the division Hepaticophyta. They reproduce asexually by gemmae and sexually by antheridia and archegonia. Learn about their classification, characteristics, reproduction and life cycle for NEET Biology. It is one of the most common liverworts found in moist, shady, cool areas with abundant moisture. It grows in large mats. Damp soil, streams, springs, wet rocks are the favorable places for its growth. There are about 65 species of Marchantia and are found all over the world. In this article we will discuss about the structure of Marchantia with the help of diagrams. External Structure of Marchantia: The gametophyte of Marchantia is a dichotomously branched, prostrate, dorsiventral thallus (Fig. 6.8). The dorsal surface of the thallus shows many regular rhomboidal or polygonal areas (Fig. 6.9A). Each area has a pore at the cen­ter. A distinct median groove (midrib) is present on the upper (dorsal) surface in each branch of the thallus with a corresponding ridge ...