Anthoceros
| Anthoceros | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Anthoceros agrestis | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Anthocerotophyta |
| Class: | Anthocerotopsida |
| Order: | Anthocerotales |
| Family: | Anthocerotaceae |
| Genus: | Anthoceros |
| Species | |
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See text. | |
Anthoceros is a genus of hornworts in the family Anthocerotaceae. The genus is global in its distribution. Its name means 'flower horn', and refers to the characteristic horn-shaped sporophytes that all hornworts produce. The dark color of the spores is the easiest way to distinguish Anthoceros from the related genus Phaeoceros, which produces spores that are yellow as noted by Campbell (1939)
The genus is distinguished by having spores that are dark brown to black, a relatively frilly thallus when compared to Phaeoceros, and larger and more internal cavities than Phaeoceros.
Sporophytes of Anthoceros
It is larger and much more complex than those of riccia, marchantia and pellia. It is differentiated into a foot, a constriction like intermediate zone and a capsule. There is no seta. It arises in clusters from the dorsal surface of the thallus each surrounded at the base a tubular involucre only Anthoceros species are host to species of Nostoc, a symbiotic relationship in which Nostoc provides nitrogen to its host through cells known as heterocysts, and which are able to carry out photosynthesis. [1]
It lives in moist clayey soils along hills,in ditches and in damp hollows among rocks.Adult plant body is a gametophyte.The Nostoc colonies are present on the lower ventral surface and are visible as blue-green patches which open outwards by slime pores.The thallus is translucent and sub-orbicular in outline.
Species
Species include:
- Anthoceros agrestis
- Anthoceros neesii
- Anthoceros himalayensis
References
- Proskauer, J. (1951). "Studies on Anthocerotales. III". Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 78: 331-349.
External links
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