The sexual life history of Marchantia is typical of the bryophytes in general and of the thalloid hepatics in particular. The gametophyte dominates with the production of gametophores. A shows a thallus producing an archegoniophore, which bears archegonia (details at C&F). The archegonium (F) encloses the egg at its base (the venter). The sperm enters the structure through the neck opening and moves past the neck canal cells and past the ventral neck canal cell, and finally meets the egg. The antheridiophores (B&D) hold the antheridia, which produce sperm (G). The zygote develops in the archegonium, and its foot remains there while the seta elevates capsule from the old archegonial tissue (J-K).