Sphaerocarpales

(botany) An order of liverworts in the subclass Marchantiidae, characterized by an envelope surrounding each antheridium and archegonium, absence of elaters, poor development of seta, and absence of thickenings in the unilayered wall of an indehiscent capsule.

An order of liverworts in the subclass Marchantiidae, consisting of two families, the terrestrial Sphaerocarpaceae (Sphaerocarpos and Geothallus) and the aquatic Riellaceae (Riella). The plants are characterized by envelopes surrounding each antheridium and archegonium, absence of elaters, poor development of seta, and absence of thickenings in the unilayered wall of an indehiscent capsule.

The rhizoids are smooth, and air chambers and pores are lacking. Oil bodies may be present. The antheridia are separately contained within receptacles on the dorsal surface or at the margins, while the archegonia are separately produced in receptacles dorsally or behind the growing point. The sporophyte consists of a bulbous foot, short or obsolescent seta, and globose indehiscent capsule with a unilayered wall. See also Bryophyta.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: small order sometimes included in the order Jungermanniales
  Synonym: order Sphaerocarpales

Sphaerocarpales
Sphaerocarpos texanus Aust.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Marchantiophyta Class: Marchantiopsida Order: Sphaerocarpales Cavers, 1910
Families
Sphaerocarpaceae Riellaceae †Naiaditaceae

Sphaerocarpales is an order of plants within the liverworts. Approximately twenty species are in this order which is sub-divided into three families: Sphaerocarpaceae and Riellaceae, as well as the extinct family Naiaditaceae. The inclusion of the Naiaditaceae is uncertain, and the family has sometimes been assigned to the Haplomitriales.

Species of Sphaerocarpales

• Sphaerocarpaceae:
  • Geothallus tuberosus
  • Sphaerocarpos cristatus
  • Sphaerocarpos donnelli
  • Sphaerocarpos drewei
  • Sphaerocarpos hians
  • Sphaerocarpos texanus

• Riellaceae:
  • Riella americana
  • Riella affinis
  • Riella halophila
  • Riella spiculata

• Naiaditaceae: †
  • Naiadita lanceolata

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sphaerocarpales

• Information on Riellaceae
• Pictures of Sphaerocarpos texanus
• Sphaerocarpales

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