BSC 2011 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Gametophyte, Sporangium, Sporophyte

• School: University of Florida
• Department: Biology - Biological Sciences
• Course: BSC 2011
• Professor: Norman Douglas, Jennie De Marco, Keith Choe

Document Summary

Most ancient bryophyte; gametophyte larger than sporophyte, sporophyte remains attached and grows directly on the gametophyte. Gametophyte body can be either flattened or leafy; these are not true leaves. Have rhizoids- plant body extensions into the soil; no true roots. No ability to conduct water because no vascular tissue: water uptake done through soil and air, moist habitats for convenience, some have flat photosynthetic nodules (not true leaves) Spohorphyte remains attached to gametophyte; two components: stalk, capsule, act to produce haploid spores in the sporangium via meiosis, elater (specialized cell) grows along spores to help distribute them, sensitive to humidity change. Gemmae cups- special structures that grow gemmae (pieces of liverwort); splash out when water collects in gemmae cups- functions as a method of asexual reproduction: helped colonize land. Sporophyte connected to gametophyte; some have a caplike end called operculum.