Evolutionary History
		Bryophytes are considered the most primitive extant, still existing, taxa of land plants, and the members of Phylum Hepatophyta, the liverworts, are believed to be the most primitive of the Bryophytes. The most commonly studied member of the liverworts is Marchantia polymorpha. Marchantia, as they are commonly called, as well as all of the liverworts are believed to have evolved from the oceanic green algae because of similar characteristics that are shared between the two in early development. Liverworts, or their early ancestors, are believed to have been some of the first plants of colonize land, and have managed to remain an important part of our environment throughout the history of the world. Liverworts, as well as as members of Kingdom Plantae, are believed to have evolved from the green algae because of the many characteristics that are common between the two. These characteristics include: 1. Chlorophyll a as the primary photosynthetic pigment. 2. Chlorophyll b and carotenoids as accessory photosynthetic pigments. 3. store energy in the form of starch. 4. Cell walls are composed of cellulose and pectin. 5. Similar metabolic pathways.
										Sea Lettuce a common oceanic green algae
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