August 2023
Dear Nature Lovers !!
Greetings from oikos !
LIVERWORTS
Liverworts are one of the sub-group of bryophyte, non-flowering plants. In Old English, the word liverwort literally means liver plant. In ancient times, it was believed that liverworts cured diseases of the liver. But no such use is evident currently, so this probably stemmed from the superficial appearance of some thalloid liverworts which resemble a liver in outline. They are distributed globally in almost every available habitat, most often in humid locations, in many ecosystems across the planet except the sea and excessively dry environments, and those exposed to high levels of direct solar radiation.
Most of the species of Liverworts grow as a flattened leafless thallus (plant body), but many species also do have leafy thallus with a form very much like a flattened moss. Many liverworts leaves have deep lobes or segmented leaves, or lack of clearly differentiated stem and leaves. Liverworts are distinguished from mosses in having unique complex oil bodies.
Liverworts are typically small, usually from 2–20 mm wide with individual plants less than 10 cm long, and are therefore often overlooked. However, certain species may cover large patches of ground, rocks, trees or any other reasonably firm substrate on which they occur.
Their greatest impact is indirect, through the reduction of erosion along streambanks, their collection and retention of water in tropical forests, and the formation of soil crusts in deserts and polar regions. However, a few species are sold as aquarium species.
Regards,
Ketaki & Manasi
With Team oikos !
Reference :
Internet, Wikipedia
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