Anthocerotaceae
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Authority
Gradstein, S. Robbert & Ilkiu-Borges, Anna L. 2009. Guide to the plants of Central French Guiana. Part 4. Liverworts and hornworts. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 76 (4): i-iv + 1-140.
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Family
Anthocerotaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Description - Plants thalloid, prostrate, often in rosettes, thallus several cells thick at least in middle, with or without a midrib, inner tissue ± undifferentiated, sometimes with large cavities; Nostoc colonies usually present inside thallus, visible as darkish dots. Epidermal cells with or without trigones, with 1(4) large, plate-like chloroplasts, each containing a pyrenoid; oil bodies absent. Rhizoids unicellular, smooth. Gametoecia immersed in thallus, each originating from an inner thallus cell; antheridia 1-several in cavities, ± spherical, stalked; archegonia borne singly, flask-shaped. Sporophytes projecting from thallus surface, growing from a basal meristem, green, turning black after dehiscence, consisting of foot and capsule, seta lacking. Capsule cylindrical to filiform, surrounded at base or to apex by a tubular involucre, capsule wall with or without stomata, columella present or absent, dehiscence of capsule gradual, from apex downward, by means of 2 valves, spore maturation asynchronous. Spores unicellular or multicellular, spore tetrads tetrahedral, rarely decussate (Leptosporoceros). Elaters of 1-3 cells, with or without spiral. Protonema thalloid, normally giving rise to only 1 gametophyte. 1. Thallus with midrib, strongly crispate. Sporophytes erect, more than 0.5 cm long, involucre restricted to base of sporophyte. Spores green. Elaters linear, with spiral band. On bark, rock, or living leaves in moist forest...... Dendrocerotaceae: Dendroceros. 1. Thallus without midrib, plane or undulate, not crispate. Sporophytes nearly horizontal on thallus, less than 0.5 cm long, almost entirely covered by involucre. Spores yellow, brown, or black. Elaters rounded, without spiral band. On soil in open environments, not in forest....... Notothyladaceae: Notothylas.