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What happens when a bryophyte spore germinates?
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bryophyte
Bryophyte moss growing on oak trees.
When a bryophyte spore germinates, it typically produces a protonema.1
This protonema serves as a precursor to the more complex gametophyte generation, which is the long-lived, photosynthetically independent, and conspicuous stage of the bryophyte life cycle. The structure of the protonema varies by group:21
- Mosses: It is usually threadlike and highly branched.1
- Liverworts and hornworts: It is generally reduced to only a few cells and is often referred to as a sporeling.1
Following this stage, the protonema develops into the mature gametophyte, which may be leafy in appearance or take the form of a flattened thallus. This gametophyte eventually produces the sex organs necessary for the next stage of the plant's life cycle.21