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Marchantia polymorpha L.

7 photos.
A primitave non-vascular plant known as the "green-tongue liverwort", "common liverwort" and "umbrella liverwort". 
It is one of the first plants to colonize areas which have been burned, often covering the ground to the
exclusion of all other species.  Eventually it is replaced by larger species.

ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 15587

1. Photo showing the thalli of the species along with the antheridiophores
(flat-topped male reproductive structure) and the archegoniophores
(fingered umbrella-like female reproductive structure).

 

2.  Thalli with gemmae cups containing gemmae with which the plant
reproduces asexually.

 

3.  Another photo showing the various structures.  with last year's
archegoniophores along with the current crop.  Fireweed has begun
to displace the liverworts.

 

4.  Mosses and Equisetum scirpoides, a horsetail known as the dwarf scouring
rush beginning to crowd out the liverwort.

5.  May 14, 2009.  Plants with the remains of
plants from the previous years.

 

6.  Close-up of male and female plants from a different cropping .
of photo 1.

7.  May 26, 2010.  A group of plants with the thalli and many
antheridiophores and a few archegoniophores from last year

Photos 1 and 6 taken near 136 mile Steese Highway

Photos 2 and 5 taken on the bluff southeast of the
lake south of 134 mile Steese Highway

Photos 3 and 4 taken between Seventeenmile slough
and the Birch Creek pingo.
65°  42.3' N,  144°  23.6' W
Elev. 700 ft.

Photo 6 taken on the trail-survey
line leading to the thaw lake south of
134 mile Steese Highway.
65° 35.8' N, 144° 36.729' W
Elev. 900 ft.