The leafy liverworts are the more numerous, but they are so similar to some of the mosses in appearance that one is not always aware of how common they are. Observe the gross appearance of a representative of the thallose liverworts such as Marchantia , Lunularia , or Conocephalum . All of these have a somewhat more complex body structure than many of the other liverworts. Note the rhizoids and scales on the lower surface. A thin cross section of the thallus should show that the cells in different parts of the thallus are specialized for different functions.
Asexual reproduction occurs commonly by fragmentation.
As the thallus elongates near the tips, branching repeatedly, the older portion dies and the many ends become independent plants. Some species, such as Marchantia and Lunularia , also produce special asexual reproductive bodies known as gemmae. This is a gemma-cup . Note the small green bodies borne in the base of the cup. Detach one of these and observe it under the microscope.