EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -The basal land plant Marchantia polymorpha efficiently propagates in favourable environments through clonal progeny called gemmae. Gemmae develop in cup-shaped receptacles known as gemma cups, which are formed on the gametophyte body.

Detailed explanation-2: -Gemma cups arise from specialised green, multicellular asexual buds called gemma. They are receptacles present on thallus that get detached from parent body to produce new individuals. These receptacles are found in Marchantia.

Detailed explanation-3: -Marchantia reproduces asexually by gemmae, which are asexual buds. They are formed in the receptacles known as gemma cups. Gemma cups are present on the dorsal surface, near the midrib of the gametophytic thalli. Gemmae are multicellular, green and haploid tissue.

Detailed explanation-4: -These structures are commonly found in fungi, algae, liverworts and mosses, but also in some flowering plants such as pygmy sundews and some species of butterworts.

Detailed explanation-5: -Marchantia polymorpha spends most of its lifecycle as a flat plant body called thallus with obvious dorsiventrality (1, 3). The dorsal side of the thallus is covered with air chambers facilitating gas exchange, and gemma cups are periodically formed for asexual propagation.