Story: Liverworts and hornworts

Hornwort

Hornwort

The body or thallus of a hornwort resembles that of a thalloid liverwort, but the two can be distinguished by their spore cases. Hornworts produce green spikes (horns) that mature and slowly split lengthwise from the tip down, making and releasing their spores slowly.

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The Hidden Forest
Photograph by Clive Shirley

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How to cite this page:

Maggy Wassilieff, 'Liverworts and hornworts - Hornworts', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/10688/hornwort (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 24 Sep 2007