Gemma cups are protective in function

Plants lacking the former ion become light green, possess few gemmae cups, and fork infrequently; but plants growing on solutions lacking PO4 soon become dark

BryophytesLiverWortsGEMMAE CUPSAsexual Mode of Reproduction Marchantia

gemmae cup In umbrella liverwort, the gemmae look like tiny leaves inside the cup When rain strikes the gemmae cups, it splashes the gemmae away to begin new plants

gemmae cups These cups produce numerous small structures called gemmae which can grow into whole new plants Close-up of a gemma cup This is a longitudinal section through