Within the sporangium there are two types of cells developing from sporanogeous tissues, spore and elater mother-cells. Elater mother-cells develop into a single diploid cell with spiral wall thickenings, known as an elater. Spore mother-cells undergo meiotic divisions to become many haploid cells, known as a spores. The sporangium does not contain stomata, a columella, or peristome teeth. The mature sporophytic generation is short-lived with a brief period of spore dispersal by longitudinal lines of dehiscence on the sporangium. Spores may persist in the harsh environments liverworts may inhabit. When the spores germinate, they develop into a new branched and free-living gametophyte.