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NZ Plants
Leafy liverworts
In leafy liverworts the eggs and sperm are most often formed at the base of leaves on the main shoot or on a short lateral branch close to the tip. Plants may be unisexual or bisexual.
Egg and sperm-producing structures
Goebelobryum ungicularis - In this liverwort sperm-containing antheridia (yellow) are formed in the axils of leaves.
Haplomitrium gibbsiae - In this liverwort, egg-containing archegonia are formed at the tips of female shoots.
The capsule
The fertilised egg develops into a short-lived spore-forming structure known as the sporophyte. This is nourished by the gametophyte to which it remains attached.
Lepidolaena taylorii - In this liverwort the stem forms a hollow outgrowth (coelocaule) with one or more egg-containing archegonia.
Lepidolaena taylorii - After fertilisation the embryo forms a capsule with developing spores
Lepidolaena taylorii - When the spores are ready to be released the cells below the capsule quickly elongate to form a fleshy pale stalk (seta) which raises the capsule up into the air .
