Habitat

Riccardia multifida lives in open areas on rotten logs, moist rocks, damp soil, swamps and peatlands.

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Gametophyte

Overall structure:

 

This monoicous liverwort is usually a yellowish-green or dark green and the thalli form short turfs or mats. Furthermore, the branching of the thalli is typically pinnate.

 

 

 

Thallus:

The multistratose and fleshy thallus of R. multifida is nearly the same thickness all the way across and as previously mentioned the branching is complex and pinnate.

Rhizoids:

This species does not have rhizoids.

Male Gametophyte:

The male branches of this species are usually short. The antheridial chambers are enclosed in two rows of cells with only one antheridium per chamber.

Female Gametophyte:

On the female branches, the sporophyte is enclosed in an elongate thallus-calyptra structure.

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Asexual Reproduction

Gemmae:

Asexual reproduction is achieved via the production of very small gemmae, which emerge from the tips of the lobs.

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 Sporophyte

Overall structure:

The sporangium of this species is elongate, and once it opens, tufts of elaters can be seen at the tips of the four lines of dehiscence.