Story: Liverworts and hornworts

Splash cups

Splash cups

Most liverworts can reproduce vegetatively (without sexual reproduction). When drops of water hit the raised cups on the liverwort’s surface, tiny pieces of tissue called gemmae are splashed out. If these land in a moist area, they grow into a new plant.

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Photograph by Bill Malcolm

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How to cite this page:

Maggy Wassilieff, 'Liverworts and hornworts - Liverworts', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/10685/splash-cups (accessed 30 April 2024)

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 24 Sep 2007