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Story: Liverworts and hornworts

Thalloid liverwort reproductive structures

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Thalloid liverwort reproductive structures

Female (above) and male (below) reproductive structures develop on separate plants and resemble little umbrellas. Female structures (archegoniophores) are identified by their hanging spokes, while male structures (antheridiophores) have a flattened surface. For fertilisation to occur, the male and female structures need to be close together so that the sperm cells can swim in a film of water to the egg cells.

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Liverworts and hornworts – Liverworts, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10670/thalloid-liverwort-reproductive-structures (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 1 March 2009.