Metzgeriales

Metzgeriales Temporal range: Upper Devonian[1] to recent PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Riccardia multifida
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Marchantiophyta
Class:	Jungermanniopsida
Subclass:	Metzgeriidae
Order:	Metzgeriales Chalaud, 1930[2]
Families[3]
Aneuraceae Metzgeriaceae † Metzgeriites See also classification.
Synonyms
Anacrogynae (various authors) Frondosae Endlicher, 1841

Metzgeriales is an order of liverworts. The group is sometimes called the simple thalloid liverworts: "thalloid" because the members lack structures resembling stems or leaves, and "simple" because their tissues are thin and relatively undifferentiated. All species in the order have a small gametophyte stage and a smaller, relatively short-lived, spore-bearing stage. Although these plants are almost entirely restricted to regions with high humidity or readily available moisture, the group as a whole is widely distributed, and occurs on every continent except Antarctica.