(viii)Life cycle consist of the gametophyte
generation phase which produces gametes
and sporophyte generation phase which
produces the spores, hence show alteration
of generations.
Archegoniurn
Antheridium
Rhizoids
Thalus
Liverwort
Antheridia Spore
capsule
Sew
Archegonia
Moss plant
Fig 1.S: Examples of bryophytes.
(ix) Reproduction in bryophytes is as follows:
The antheridial (male) stalks and
archegonial (female) stalks can be
borne on separate plants.
Male plants produce stalks which
contain antheridia (antheridium -
singular) surrounded by leaves in
which male gametes are produced.
Female plants produce stalks which
contain archegonia (archegonium -
singular) in which female gametes are
produced, also surrounded by leaves.
Antheridia release male gametes
which swim in water to fertilise the
egg in the archegonia.
Fertilisation results into a zygote
which grows into a young sporophyte
generation plant, supported and
nourished by the gametophyte.
The sporophyte develops a spore
capsule at maturity. Spores inside
the spore capsule are held above the
ground by a stalk called the seta.
At maturity, the spore capsule raptures
releasing mature spores which are
carried by wind to land on damp
well sheltered grounds where they
germinate into young plants of the
gametophyte generation.
/ Practical activity
To observe and examine the
external structures in a bryophyte
Required materials
- Moss plants, liverwort plants with
capsules.
- Glass slides.
Mounting needles.
Hand lenses.
- Droppers and water.
Procedure followed
(i) Pluck off a moss plant from the moist
carpet like clustered plants.
(ii) Place it on the glass slide.
(iii) Add a drop of water using the dropper
to stop extreme dehydration.
(iv) Observe it under the hand lens.
(v) identify the rhizoids, artheridial and
archegonial stalks, sporophyte plant,
the capsule and the seta.
(vi) Draw a well labelled diagram of the
plant.
(vii) Repeat the same procedure using a
liverwort plant.
(b) Division Pteridophyta
This comprises a wide variety of small ferns
to giant ferns.
Characteristic features of pteridophytes
(i) Their bodies are differentiated into roots,
stems and leaves but do not produce
flowers.
(ii) They have a well defined vascular system
in the sporophyte generation. It consists
of xylem tissue and phloem tissue.