Traits;Category;Description;Function
"Oil bodies";Binary;"Unique to liverworts, these are true membrane-bound organelles that contain terpenoid oils suspended in a carbohydrate and/or protein-rich matrix. Ninety percent of liverworts develop them.";"Thought to deter herbivores or provide protection from cold and/or UV radiation (He et al. 2013)."
Ocelli;Binary;"Specialized leaf cells that contain one larger-than-usual oil body and lack chloroplasts.";"Like oil bodies, these are thought to deter herbivores or provide protection from cold and/or UV radiation (He et al. 2013)."
Lobule;Binary;"Smaller lobes of a complicated-bilobed leaf or a sac formed by an enrolled rear leaf margin (Malcolm and Malcolm 2000).";"Lobules have long been interpreted as water sacs allowing the plant to remain physiologically active when the colonies are subjected to persistent desiccating conditions."
"Leaf surface papillae";Binary;"A minute, solid protuberance on a cell surface. Developed in some liverwort species.";"These are thought to increase and maintain water uptake. By creating capillary channels on the leaf surface they appear to aid in retaining water and protecting regions of active cell division from dehydration (Proctor 2008)."
Trigones;Binary;"Wall thickenings where three adjacent cells meet.";"The presence of trigones seems to be a xerophytic adaptation in liverworts (Watson 1914)."
Underleaves;Binary;"Leaves on ventral stem surfaces.";"Their presence against the stem could favor the storage of intercepted water through capillarity in order to keep the plant moist and photosynthetically active (Ah-Peng et al. 2017)."
"Size related traits";Continuous;"Gametophyte length";"These traits appear to be related to growth and nutrient retention (Proctor and Tuba 2002)."
"Gametophyte width"
"Stem diameter"
"Leaf length"
"Leaf width"
"Elongation index (gametophyte length/width ratio)"