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Lunularia (Lunularia)

Description

Lunularia is not purely asexual; it can also reproduce sexually (see illustration) with four archegonia arranged in a cross-shaped head (hence the specific name cruciata) bearing diploid sporophyte plantlets. As in other liverworts, the main plant body or thallus is a haploid gametophyte. Like many other liverwort species, Lunularia produces a dihydrostilbenoid growth hormone, lunularic acid, that is reported to be a growth inhibitor of liverworts.

Taxonomic tree

  • Domain: Eukarya

    • Kingdom: Plantae

      • Phylum: Hepaticophyta

        • Class: Hepaticopsida

          • Order: Marchantiales

            • Family: Lunulariaceae

              • Genus: Lunularia