Anthocerotales

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Anthocerotales (hornworts; class Hepaticae) An order of thallose liverworts which have a number of unique characteristics; they are sometimes regarded as a separate class, Anthocerotae (Anthocerotopsida). The capsule is long and narrow and splits into 2 valves only (Compare HEPATICAE); it remains green for a long period. The green cells of the thallus each contain a single large chloroplast. Two genera occur in Britain: Anthoceros and Phaeoceros. They are found e.g. on wet soil in fields, banks, ditches, etc.

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