| Algae |
BRYOPHYTES
Mosses
Liverworts
Hornworts
Fern Gametophytes
Bryophyte Links
Some Mosses and Liverworts to Know in the Field
Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, and hornworts) are the only land
plants (embryophytes) whose life history includes a dominant gametophyte
(haploid) stage. The form of the gametophyte is varied, yet vegetative
features common to many bryophyte gametophytes include: gemmae
and rhizoids
Reproductive features common among bryophyte gametophytes include: antheridia
and archegonia.
Vegetative Features Common to Many Bryophytes
Gemmae
in Bryophytes
Gemmae are a means of asexual reproduction found in many
bryophytes. Gemmae are 1 to many celled, specially produced clonal plant
fragments. Some specific examples of gemmae are illustrated in the table below.
The form of the gemmae is often very useful when identifying certain bryophytes.
Gemmae are variously dispersed (e.g. by wind, water) and are capable of growing
into new plants.
Click thumbnail images to enlarge
| Single-celled gemmae arising from leaf margin of Nowellia curvifolia (grown in liquid culture) |
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| Single-celled gemmae arising from leaf margin of Lophozia capitata - a leafy liverwort | |
| Gemmae from leaf margins of the leafy liverwort Scapania |
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| Discoid, multicellular gemmae along leaf margins of Radula australis - a leafy liverwort |
|
| Polygonal gemmae from leaf margin of the leafy liverwort Lophozia bicrenata | |
| Gemmae of the moss Syrrhopodon texanus | |
| Miniature leaf-like gemmae clustered at shoot tips of the moss Tortula pagorum | |
| Propagule arising from leaf surface in the liverwort Plagiochila |
|
| The moss, Tetraphis pellucida, with gemmae cups | |
| Gemmae cups in the liverwort Marchantia | |
Rhizoids anchor the gametophyte to the substrate. Rhizoids can be important taxonomic characters. Their presence/absence, color, and papillosity are sometimes used in making identifications.
| Purple rhizoids of Fossombronia foveolata |  click image to enlarge |
| Rhizoids restricted to underleaf base in a liverwort | 
click image to enlarge |
| Unbranched rhizoids of a liverwort |  click image to enlarge |
| Pegged and smooth rhizoids in the Marchantiales |  click image to enlarge |
| Branched rhizoids of a moss |  click image to enlarge |
| Red tubers on the rhizoids of Bryum |
click image to enlarge |
Protonemata
| Bryidae protonemata | 
click image to enlarge |
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