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How do bryophytes reproduce asexually through gemmae?
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bryophyte
Bryophyte moss growing on oak trees.
In bryophytes, asexual or vegetative reproduction occurs through specialized masses of cells known as gemmae. These structures are produced by the gametophyte generation and are typically budded off to ultimately develop into new, independent gametophytes.1
In many liverworts, these gemmae are specifically formed as disks of tissue held within specialized structures called gemma cups. When rainfall occurs, the gemmae are dispersed from these cups, allowing them to settle and grow into new plants. In addition to gemmae, bryophytes can reproduce vegetatively through the fragmentation of the gametophyte, where each living fragment possesses the potential to develop into a complete, mature gametophyte.21