Liverwort

Description:

Liverworts are distributed worldwide, though most commonly in the tropics. Liverworts grow commonly on moist soil or damp rocks and need heavy moisture on the leaves for reproduction. Part of the liverwort produces male reproductive cells while another part produces egg cells. The male reproductive cells swim across the surface of the liverwort in a film of water and are chemically attracted to the egg cells. The result of fertilization is a sporangium or spore case which will eventually release spores into the air.

Habitat:

Growing on a wet trunk close to the river. Barraca de Metlac near Fortin de Las Flores, Veracruz, Mexico.

Notes:

Interestingly, these plants came by their common name of Liverworts because the lobes leaves resemble the liver.