| 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 Aust.[1] |
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| Synonyms | |
|
Sphaerocarpus berterii Aust., 1873 |
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Sphaerocarpos texanus is a species of liverwort in the Sphaerocarpaceae family, found in the Americas, northern Africa and Europe.
Contents |
S. texanus are small, thalloid, dioecious liverworts.[2] The species is sexually dimorphic, with male plants usually 3-5 mm in diameter, females up to 12 mm in diameter[3]. Both male (bearing antheridia) and female (bearing archegonia) plants are bright green, with the thallus branching up to several times[2]. The plant is a winter annual, appearing in autumn and dying in spring[3]. 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[2][3].
The plant is found on flat, lightly shaded soil. Usually by roadsides[2].
S. texanus has a wide range, probably the widest of any species in its genus. It has been found on several continents, in the United States, Uruguay, England, Germany, France and Morocco[2].