Bryophyte Flora of North America

Characters or Character Groups and Sequence
for Hepatics and Anthocerotes

Modified from "FNA Bryophyte Character Lists" (March 1993)
Note: try to put all characters of one major organ in one sentence,
using semicolons to separate items.
NOTE: WE HAVE DECIDED TO ELIMINATE CHROMOSOME NUMBER CITATIONS.
Lists of characters/character groups are available for the following groups:
HEPATICS
Leafy Hepatics
Simple Thalloid Hepatics
Complex Thalloid Hepatics

ANTHOCEROTES

HEPATICS

Leafy Hepatics

GAMETOPHYTE

Plants (gametophores)
dimensions (length X width)
habit (growth form)
color
female/male dimorphism
Stems
size (diameter)
branching types
transverse section features
Epidermis
cortex
central strand
paraphyllia
rhizoids
position
color
morphology
Lateral Leaves
insertion
incubous
succubous
transverse
spacing
stature when dry (habit, set and curvature)
stature when wet (habit, set and curvature)
shape
dimensions (length X width) (length/width)
form (divided/entire)
lobe(s) (describe the following for each type of lobe if lobes are dimorphic)
shape
dimensions (length X width)
contour
apex
base
margins
cells (describe the following for marginal, median and basal cells, if differentiated)
shape
dimensions (length X width)
surface features (smooth, papillate, verrucose, etc.)
wall thickness
trigones and intermediate thickenings
oil bodies (distribution, number, shape, surface, and color)
Ventral Leaves (Underleaves)
number per pair of lateral leaves
insertion
spacing
distant
contiguous
imbricate
contour (e.g., concave, convex)
shape
dimensions (length/width)
form (divided or entire; if divided describe shape, size, contour, apex, base, margins for each lobe, or type of lobe, and shape of sinus between lobes)
cells (describe the following for marginal, median and basal cells, if differentiated)
shape
dimensions (length X width)
surface features (smooth, papillate, verrucose, etc.)
wall thickness
trigones and intermediate thickenings
oil bodies (distribution, number, shape, surface, and color)
Asexual reproduction
presence/absence, frequency
type of propagules
position
associated stem/leaf modification
color of propagules
shape of propagules
size of propagules
number of cells
wall features
Sexual condition [= "Sexuality", e.g., autoicous, dioicous, etc.]
Androecia
position
shape
bracts (perigonial leaves)
number per androecium
shape
dimensions (length X width)
bracteole(s) (perigonial underleaves)
number per androecium
shape
dimensions (length X width)
antheridium (-a)
number
color
jacket cell arrangement
number of cell rows in stalk
Gynoecia
position
innovation(s)
branch type
conditions of development (e.g., "only with unfertilized gynoecia", etc)
number per gynoecium
bracts (perichaetial leaves)
number
shape
dimensions (length X width)
connation
bracteole(s) (perichaetial underleaves)
number
shape
dimensions (length X width)
adnation
leaf-derived protective structure (perianth)
exertion
shape
dimensions (length X width)
degree of fusion or parts
lobing
surface ornamentation
mouth
thickness (in cell layers)
stem-derived protective structure (shoot calyptra, perigynium, etc.)
shape
dimensions (length X width)
associated appendages
number of archegonia
number of archegonia

SPOROPHYTES

Foot
shape
dimensions (length X width)
collar
Seta
length
articulate/not-articulate
transverse section features (number of rows of cells in outer layer, number of cells in interior
Capsule
shape
dehiscence
number of wall layers
wall thickenings (describe for each differentiated layer)
position of thickenings
color
Elaters
attachment
shape
dimensions (length X width)
spiral(s)
number
color
Spores
shape and polarity
dimensions (length X width)
ornamentation
color
germination (precocious/not precocious)
Chromosome number
n =
reference
Include as first sentence in ecology and range or distribution statement:
Months or season when capsules mature, or when mature spores are present

Simple Thalloid Hepatics

GAMETOPHYTE

Plants (gametophores)
form (laminal thalloid or dissected thalloid)
dimensions (length X width)
habit
color
female/male dimorphism
Thalli (laminal thalloid forms)
length/width
midrib
margins
thallus thickness
anatomy (conducting strand)
rhizoids
position
color
morphology
slime papillae/appendages
Thalli (dissected thalloid forms)
Stems
size (diameter)
transverse section features
epidermis
cortex
central strand
rhizoids
position
color
morphology
Lobes/Lobules (describe the following for each type of lobe if lobes are dimorphic)
insertion
incubous
succubous
transverse
longitudinal
spacing
stature when dry (habit, set and curvature)
stature when wet (habit, set and curvature)
thickness (number of cell layers)
shape
dimensions (length X width) (length/width)
contour
apex
base
margins
cells (describe the following for marginal, median and basal cells, if differentiated)
shape
dimensions (length X width)
surface features (smooth, papillate, verrucose, etc.)
wall thickness
trigones and intermediate thickenings
oil bodies (distribution, number, shape, surface, and color)
Asexual reproduction
presence/absence, frequency
type of propagules
position
associated stem/leaf modification
color of propagules
shape of propagules
size of propagules
number of cells
wall features
Sexual condition [= "Sexuality"]
Androecia
position
shape
scale(s)
number per androecium
shape
dimensions (length X width)
antheridia
number
color
jacket cell arrangement
number of cell rows in stalk
Gynoecia
position
thallus-derived protective structures (e.g., pseudoperianth/involucre)
number
shape
dimensions (length X width)
thickness
lobing
surface ornamentation
mouth
archegonial/thallus derived protective structures (e.g., shoot calyptra)
shape
dimensions (length X width)
thickness
surface features
associated appendages
number of archegonia

SPOROPHYTES

Foot
shape
dimensions (length X width)
collar
Seta
length
articulate/not-articulate
transverse section features (number of rows of cells in outer layer, number of cells in interior
Capsule
shape
dehiscence
number of wall layers
wall thickenings (describe for each differentiated layer)
position of thickenings
color
Elaters
attachment
shape
dimensions (length X width)
spiral(s)
number
color
Spores
shape and polarity
dimensions (length X width)
ornamentation
color
germination (precocious/not precocious)
Chromosome number
n =
reference
Include as first sentence in ecology and range or distribution statement:
Months or season when capsules mature, or when mature spores are present

MARCHANTIIDAE

GAMETOPHYTE

Plants (gametophores)
dimensions (length X width)
habit
color
female/male dimorphism
Thalli
length/width
stature when dry
stature when wet
areolation
dorsal groove
median band
margins
thallus thickness
thallus anatomy (upper to lower surface)
Upper epidermal cells
shape
dimensions (length X width)
wall thickness
trigones and intermediate thickenings
oil cells
pores
position
structure
internal air chambers
photosynthetic tissue
shape
dimensions (length X width)
wall thickness
trigones and intermediate thickenings
oil cells
lower epidermis
rhizoids
position
color
morphology
ventral scales
number of rows
shape
dimensions (length X width)
color
margins
appendages
oil cells
Asexual reproduction
presence/absence, frequency
type of propagules
position
associated stem/leaf modification
color of propagules
shape of propagules
size of propagules
number of cells
length and width
wall features

Sexual condition [= "Sexuality"]

Androecia
position
shape
color
receptacle
shape
dimensions (length X width)
margin
lobe number (if lobed)
lobe shape (if lobed)
surface ornamentation
antheridiophore
length
rhizoid furrows
appendages
antheridia
position
number
color
involucre
color
length
Gynoecia
position
shape
color
receptacle
shape
dimensions (length X width)
margins
lobe number (if lobed)
lobe shape (if lobed)
surface ornamentation
archegoniophore
length
rhizoid furrows
appendages
archegonia
position
number
pseudoperianth
involucre
color
length

SPOROPHYTES

Foot
shape
dimensions (length X width)
collar
Seta
length
articulate/not-articulate
transverse section features (number of cell rows in outer layer, number of cells in interior)
Capsule
shape
color
number of valves
dehiscence
Elaters
attachment
shape
dimensions (length X width)
spiral(s)
number
color
Spores
form (e.g., monads, diads, tetrads)
shape and polarity
dimensions (diameter, or length X width)
ornamentation
color germination (precocious/not precocious)
Chromosome number
n = (and reference)

Include as first sentence in ecology and range or distribution statement:
Months or season when capsules mature, or when mature spores are present

ANTHOCEROTES

GAMETOPHYTE

Plants (gametophores)
dimensions (length X width)
habit
color
female/male dimorphism
Thalli
length/width
midrib
margins
thallus thickness
anatomy (mucilage cavities)
rhizoids
position
color
morphology
slime papillae/appendages
Sexual condition [= "Sexuality"]
Androecia
position
shape
antheridia
number
color
jacket cell arrangement
number of cell rows in stalk
Gynoecia
position
archegonia
thallus derived protective structur3e (involucre)

SPOROPHYTE

Foot

shape
size

Capsules

shape
size
number or presence/absence) of valves
dehiscence
number of wall layers
stomates
columellae

Pseudoelaters

size
shape

Spores

color
shape and polarity
diameter
triradiate ridge
ornamentation (distal face, proximal face)

END