The female gametangia are called archegoniophores, they have a taller stem and an umbrella-like structure at the top, approximately 1 cm (0.39 in) wide, from which the common name is derived.

[2] Gemma cups appear on the thallus more commonly in winter[3] when rainfall is higher, as raindrops are required to disperse the gemmules.

[4] The composition and amount of these chemicals changes seasonally depending on the reproductive state of the plant, when gametangia are present there is an absence of acacetin and its glycosides.

[6] Marchantia berteroana can be found in Australia, New Zealand, Southern Africa,[7] South America,[8] Antarctica[9] and, non-continental locations such as Papua New Guinea, Java, New Caledonia and various smaller islands.

[10] M berteroana prefers moist environments such as near fresh water sources, waterfall splash zones and, forest floors.