<P> A gemma (plural gemmae) is a single cell, or a mass of cells, or a modified bud of tissue, that detaches from the parent and develops into a new individual . This type of asexual reproduction is referred to as fragmentation . It is a means of asexual propagation in plants . These structures are commonly found in fungi, algae, liverworts and mosses, but also in some flowering plants such as pygmy sundews and some species of butterworts . Vascular plants have many other methods of asexual reproduction including bulbils and turions . </P> <P> The production of gemmae is a widespread means of asexual reproduction in both liverworts and mosses . In liverworts such as Marchantia, the flattened plant body or thallus is a haploid gametophyte with gemma cups scattered about its upper surface . The gemma cups are cup - like structures containing gemmae . The gemmae are small discs of haploid tissue, and they directly give rise to new gametophytes . They are dispersed from gemma cups by rainfall . </P>

Gemma cups are located on the male and female thalami of marchantia as