Sphaerothylax

Herbs with a basal, thaloid body closely appressed to substrate (resembling Marchantia); upper branches, if developed, erect, slender, with leaves and flowers congested at nodes. Leaves either repeatedly forked into linear segments or scale-like. Flowers solitary or aggregated both on thallus and in axils of leaves on elongated stems, subtended by some rough, open bracts (reduced leaves); spathella obovoid, splitting irregularly, forming an open, funnel-shaped cup; pedicels up to 2 mm long. Perianth of 2 subulate segments. Stamens 2, with filaments fused to apex. Ovary 1-locular, ovoid, sessile or shortly stipitate; styles 2. Capsule globose to subglobose, with 8 wide ribs, opening by 2 unequal valves, larger one persistent. Seeds flattened, ovate, smooth, black.