Sphaerocarpos texanus
Species of liverwort
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sphaerocarpos texanus, the Texas balloonwort,[2] is a species of liverwort in the Sphaerocarpaceae family, found in the Americas, northern Africa and Europe.
| Sphaerocarpos texanus | |
|---|---|
| |
| Female plants of Sphaerocarpos texanus bearing mature sporophytes | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Marchantiophyta |
| Class: | Marchantiopsida |
| Order: | Sphaerocarpales |
| Family: | Sphaerocarpaceae |
| Genus: | Sphaerocarpos |
| Species: | S. texanus |
| Binomial name | |
| Sphaerocarpos texanus | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Sphaerocarpus berterii Aust., 1873 | |
Description
Sphaerocarpos texanus are small, thalloid, dioecious liverworts.[3] The species is sexually dimorphic, with male plants usually 3–5 mm in diameter, females up to 12 mm in diameter.[4] Both male (bearing antheridia) and female (bearing archegonia) plants are bright green, with the thallus branching up to several times.[3] The plant is a winter annual, appearing in autumn and dying in spring.[4] Notably, the spores occur in sets of four, called tetrads. Unlike most other species of liverwort, the spores stay in these tetrads until they germinate.[3][4]
Habitat
The plant is found on flat, lightly shaded soil. Usually by roadsides.[3]
