Lunularia (Lunularia)
Description
Lunularia is not purely asexual; it can also reproduce sexually (see illustration) with four archegonia arranged in a cross-shaped head (hence the specific name cruciata) bearing diploid sporophyte plantlets. As in other liverworts, the main plant body or thallus is a haploid gametophyte. Like many other liverwort species, Lunularia produces a dihydrostilbenoid growth hormone, lunularic acid, that is reported to be a growth inhibitor of liverworts.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Hepaticophyta
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Class: Hepaticopsida
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Order: Marchantiales
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Family: Lunulariaceae
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Genus: Lunularia
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