Marchantia - Structure, Reproduction and Life Cycle

Marchantia: Marchantia is a type of liverwort belonging to the Marchantiaceae family and the Marchantiales order. Liverworts are small, nonvascular green plants that typically consist of only a few layers of cells. They thrive in damp environments and often form extensive colonies on the surfaces where they grow.

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Marchantia Classification

Mammary Glands

Marchantia Structure

Thallus

• Upper Photosynthetic Layer: This layer contains chloroplasts crucial for photosynthesis and features a well-defined upper epidermis with pores. These pores, visible as diamond-shaped markings on the upper surface, facilitate gas exchange between the plant and its surroundings.
• Lower Storage Layer: This layer lacks chloroplasts and serves as a storage tissue for food and water.

Okazaki Fragments

Rhizoids and Scales

• Rhizoids: These structures, resembling hair, anchor the plant to the ground and aid in water and mineral absorption. Unlike roots, rhizoids are unicellular, composed of a single cell.
• Scales: These multicellular, purple-coloured structures also assist in water absorption and likely protect the underside of the thallus.

Reproductive Structures

1. Asexual Reproduction: The upper surface of the thallus features small cup-shaped structures known as gemma cups. These cups contain clusters of cells called gemmae. When detached from the plant, gemmae can develop into new Marchantia individuals.
2. Sexual Reproduction:

• Antheridia, producing sperm cells, are found on antheridiophores.
• Archegonia produces eggs located on archegoniophores.

lymphocytes

Marchantia Characteristics

1. Typically found in moist and shady places.
2. Thalloid structure, with a flat and dichotomously branched thallus that is dorsiventral.
3. Gametophyte is the dominant phase in the plant's life cycle.
4. It contains diamond-shaped markings with central pores for gas exchange; chambers are present internally beneath these markings.
5. Features scales and unicellular rhizoids; rhizoids function as root-like structures for anchoring the plant and absorbing water and minerals.
6. Found on the dorsal surface; bear cup-shaped structures called gemmae for asexual reproduction.
7. Developed on stalks known as antheridiophores and archegoniophores; these structures contain male (antheridia) and female (archegonia) reproductive organs, respectively.
8. It contains air pores opening into an air chamber within the photosynthetic zone; also includes a few chloroplasts.Storage Zone: Lies beneath the air chamber and photosynthetic zone; made up of parenchymatous cells lacking chloroplasts; stores protein, starch, oil, and mucilage.

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Marchantia Monoecious or Dioecious

Gametes Types

Marchantia Reproduction

Asexual Reproduction

Sexual Reproduction

Plankton

Fertilization

Marchantia Sporophyte

Hypotonic Solution

Marchantia Life Cycle

Sexual Reproduction In Flowering Plants

Marchantia in Hindi