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Marchantia
polymorpha- Liverwort (Marchantiaceae)
Liverworts, or hepatics, are small plants that are generally
less conspicuous than mosses. Their name dates from the Ninth
Century, when it was thought, because of the liver-shaped outline
of the gametophyte in some genera, that these plants might be
useful in treating diseases of the liver. According to the medieval
"Doctrine of Signatures" the outward appearance of
a body signaled the possession of special properties. The ending
"-wort" simply means "herb" and so appears
as part of many plant common names. Thallose liverworts are a
diverse group of nonleafy hepatics. They can be found on moist,
shaded banks and in other suitable habitats, such as flower pots
in a cool greenhouse. The leafy liverworts are a diverse group
that includes more than two-thirds of the 6000 known species
of liverworts. The leafy liverworts are especially abundant in
the tropics and subtropics, in regions of heavy rainfall or high
humidity, but they are also present in large numbers in temperate
regions.
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