Liverworts: Leafy liverworts

 

Liverworts with lobules and 2-parted underleaves

Gackstroemia
Family Lepidolaenaceae, order Jungermanniales
The leaves of these liverworts form curious helmet-shaped lobules on their undersurface. They are distinguished from other lobule-bearing genera in that their underleaves are divided into two parts.


Gackstroemia sp. aff. weindorferi - The pinnate (herringbone) branching results in a beautiful frond-like appearance of the stems. This liverwort is found in damp forest throughout New Zealand on humus, rotting logs or on other plants. (photo, John Braggins)


Gackstroemia sp. aff. weindorferi. - When detached, underleaves can be seen to be bilobed and to have marginal hairs (cilia). Several helmet-shaped lobules are seen attached to one of the leaves in this photo.
(photo, John Braggins)


Gackstroemia sp. aff. weindorferi - The cellular detail of the lobules and cilia are clearly shown.
(photo, John Braggins)


Gackstroemia alpina - Seen from above, the upper leaves of the stem bear fine cilia along their margins. Scanning electron microscope (SEM). (SEM photo, John Braggins)
Gackstroemia alpina - Seen from below, the lower leaves of the primary and secondary branches are flat and bilobed while the smaller (3rd order) branches bear leaves with helmet-shaped lobules.
(SEM photo, John Braggins)

Please give us your feedback or ask us a question

This message is...


My feedback or question is...


My email address is...

(Only if you need a reply)