''Sphaerocarpos texanus'', the Texas balloonwort, is a species of

liverwort Liverworts are a group of non-vascular land plants forming the division Marchantiophyta (). They may also be referred to as hepatics. Like mosses and hornworts, they have a gametophyte-dominant life cycle, in which cells of the plant carry ...

in the

Sphaerocarpaceae Sphaerocarpaceae is a Family (biology), family of liverworts known as bottle liverworts. Approximately ten species are included in this family, most of them in the genus ''Sphaerocarpos'', but one additional species in the genus ''Geothallus''. ...

family, found in the Americas, northern Africa and Europe.

Description

''Sphaerocarpos texanus'' are small, thalloid,

dioecious Dioecy ( ; ; adj. dioecious, ) is a characteristic of certain species that have distinct unisexual individuals, each producing either male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproduction is ...

liverworts. The species is

sexually dimorphic Sexual dimorphism is the condition where sexes of the same species exhibit different Morphology (biology), morphological characteristics, including characteristics not directly involved in reproduction. The condition occurs in most dioecy, di ...

, with male plants usually 3–5 mm in diameter, females up to 12 mm in diameter. Both male (bearing antheridia) and female (bearing

archegonia An archegonium (: archegonia), from the Ancient Greek ''ἀρχή'' ("beginning") and ''γόνος'' ("offspring"), is a multicellular structure or organ of the gametophyte phase of certain plants, producing and containing the ovum or female gamet ...

) plants are bright green, with the thallus branching up to several times. The plant is a winter annual, appearing in autumn and dying in spring. Notably, the

spore In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual reproduction, sexual (in fungi) or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for biological dispersal, dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores fo ...

s occur in sets of four, called tetrads. Unlike most other species of liverwort, the spores stay in these tetrads until they germinate.

Habitat

The plant is found on flat, lightly shaded soil. Usually by roadsides.

Distribution

''Sphaerocarpos texanus'' has a wide range, probably the widest of any species in its genus. It has been found on several continents, in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

Uruguay Uruguay, officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast, while bordering the Río de la Plata to the south and the A ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and

Morocco Morocco, officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It has coastlines on the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to Algeria–Morocc ...

References

External links

{{Taxonbar, from=Q7576519 Sphaerocarpales Flora of the United States Flora of Uruguay Flora of Great Britain Flora of France Flora of Germany Flora of Morocco Flora of Lebanon