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Liverwort: meaning, definitions and examples

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liverwort

 

[ ˈlɪvərˌwɜrt ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

botanical term

Liverworts are non-vascular plants in the division Marchantiophyta. They are primarily found in moist, shady environments and are characterized by their flat, leafy structures. Liverworts reproduce both sexually and asexually, with some species showing unique reproductive strategies involving gemmae.

Synonyms

Marchantiophytes

Examples of usage

  • Liverworts thrive in damp forests.
  • Scientists study liverworts for their simple structures.
  • Liverworts can signal healthy ecosystems.
  • Some liverworts are used in traditional medicine.

Translations

Translations of the word "liverwort" in other languages:

🇵🇹 hepatica

🇮🇳 जिगर का काई

🇩🇪 Lebermoos

🇮🇩 lumut hati

🇺🇦 мох печінковий

🇵🇱 wątrobowiec

🇯🇵 肝苔 (かんたい)

🇫🇷 marchantia

🇪🇸 hepática

🇹🇷 karaciğer yosunu

🇰🇷 간이끼

🇸🇦 طحلب الكبد

🇨🇿 jaterník

🇸🇰 pečeňová macha

🇨🇳 肝苔

🇸🇮 jeternik

🇮🇸 lifröðull

🇰🇿 бауыр мүгі

🇬🇪 ღვიძლის თუალ

🇦🇿 qaraciyər yosunu

🇲🇽 hepatica

Word origin

The term 'liverwort' dates back to the 14th century, derived from the Middle English 'leverworte' which came from the Old English 'leoforwyrta'. The name reflects the plant's historical medicinal use for liver ailments, stemming from the belief that the shape of the plant's leaves resembled that of a liver. This connection to the liver was also emphasized in the doctrine of signatures, a philosophy prevalent during the medieval period that suggested plants resembling a particular organ could be used to treat ailments related to that organ. Liverworts were once classified among larger groups of plants until modern taxonomy correctly placed them in their own division, recognizing their distinct evolutionary lineage.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,781, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.