How to Grow and Care for Marchantia

Common liverwort (Marchantia polymorpha) Is a subtropical ground covering plant with forked branches that will grow to 10 cm long. It does not produce flowers nor seeds. Considered a weed in gardens and lawns, it forms a dense carpet over the ground and reproduces by spores. It is fire tolerant and has been useful in woodland restoration projects to help deter ground erosion.

Marchantia emarginata is a liverwort with extremely significant ecological and economical roles: they serve as shelters to tiny organisms, they are used as pollution indicators, and they are great for soil erosion control. Marchantia emarginata is highly variable in appearance.

Marchantia foliacea is a distinctive liverwort with wide, flat, and often overlapping green lobes that form a carpet-like mat on moist soil or rocks. This species thrives in shaded environments, hinting at an adaptation to low-light habitats. The umbrella-shaped structures, which emerge to release spores, are indicative of its reproductive strategy, incorporating both asexual and sexual reproduction. Its structural design enables efficient water retention and resilience in fluctuating moisture conditions.

Bonfire Liverwort is a liverwort with a distinctive, flattened, green thallus that often forms carpets over moist soil or rocks. Its umbrella-like reproductive structures rise above the thallus, hinting at its ancient lineage among land plants. Thriving in damp conditions, bonfire Liverwort excels in capturing water and nutrients, showcasing a simplicity that belies its ecological adaptability.

Marchantia macropora is a liverwort with a broad, flat thallus that typically favors moist, shaded environments. Its structure allows for efficient water and nutrient absorption, vital for thriving in its damp habitats. Unique air pores dot the surface, allowing gas exchange, critical for its survival under a canopy of dense vegetation.