2. Characteristic Features
• They are amphibians among plants.
• Found at moist and shady places.
• The main plant body is Gametophyte, Sporophyte depended on
Gametophyte.
• The Gametophyte is Thalloid or Foliose.
• Thallus dorsiventraly flat and green.
• Ventral surface with scale and unicellular rhizoid.
• Foliose:- Multi-cellular rhizoids with main axis, leaf like structures.
• Thallus is internally differentiated.
• Reproduction by vegetative asexual and sexual mode.
• Vegetative reproduction by fragmentation, bulbils, tubers.
• In growing season vegetative reproduction is the most common.
• Asexual reproduction by formation of gamme.
• At the end of favourable condition sexual reproduction takes place.
3. • Sexual reproduction is Oogamus.
• Species may be monoecious or dioecious.
• Male sex organ- Antheridium
• Female sex organ – Archegonium
• Sex organs are multi-cellular and jacketed.
• They are found on the dorsal surface of the thallus – embedded in
the thallus, on the thallus – with or without stalk.
• Without stalks- sessile
• Stalked – Gametophores
• Female Gametophore- Archegoniophore
• Male Gametophore – Antheridiophore
• Both with stalk and disc on it.
• Disc has the sex organs.
4. • Male gamete is Antheroziod – biphalgellated and spirally coiled.
• Female gamete is Egg or Ovum.
• For fertilization water is essential.
• After fertilization zygote formed inside the venter of the archegonium
• Zygote divides and forms an embryo.
• Embryo develops into a Sporophyte.
• Sporophyte- foot, seta and capsule.
• Foot – embedded in the female gametophyte.
• Seta- short before maturation.
• Capsule – single or multilayered wall with archesporium in it.
• Archesporium – elator mother cells and spore mother cells.
• Spore mother cells – meiosis – haploid spores.
• Spores germinates and falls and gives rise to Gametophyte.