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Blasia
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<p><i>Blasia pusilla</i> is the only species in the <a href="/facts/Marchantiophyta/2lmpEV4A">liverwort</a> <a href="/facts/Genus/m8EFjSms">genus</a> <i>Blasia</i>. This species establishes a symbiosis with <a href="/facts/Nitrogen_fixation/TeLoBpWS">nitrogen-fixing</a> cyanobacteria of the genus <i><a href="/facts/Nostoc/WoDSJKYR">Nostoc</a></i>, which are housed in special cavities, called auricles, occurring on the ventral (underside) surface of the thallus. </p><p><i>Blasia</i> is distinguished from <i><a href="/facts/Cavicularia/rhpr3DlI">Cavicularia</a></i> by the presence of a collar around the base of the <a href="/facts/Sporophyte/vXVc3HAD">sporophyte</a> capsule, and a scattered arrangement of sperm-producing <a href="/facts/Antheridium/MFMqmkMv">antheridia</a>. <a href="/facts/Rhizoid/dDgxHqSu">Rhizoids</a> and <a href="/facts/Gemma_(botany)/aQaqJEaw">gemmae</a> of <i>Blasia</i> may be parasitized by the <a href="/facts/Mushroom/sRdY6lfe">mushroom</a> <i><a href="/facts/Blasiphalia/TalRK7cW">Blasiphalia</a></i>. </p><p>The genus name of <i>Blasia</i> is in honour of Blasius Biagi (ca. 1670 - 1735), an Italian clergyman from village of <a href="/facts/Vallombrosa/1ndkaUID">Vallombrosa</a>. </p>