antheridium
Quick Summary
The antheridium is the male reproductive organ in certain plants, including ferns and mosses. It is responsible for producing sperm, also known as antherozoids. These sperm are motile and use flagella to swim towards the female reproductive organ, the archegonium, to achieve fertilization.123
In some lower vascular plants, the antheridium develops from a microspore and contains mother cells that give rise to the antherozoids. In gymnosperms, the antheridial cell divides to form tube and generative cells, which are contained within the pollen grain. While antheridia are the male reproductive structures in these groups, the term "anther" specifically refers to the part of a stamen in flowering plants that contains pollen.34
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
archegonium…corresponding male reproductive organ, the antheridium.
Read More…corresponding male reproductive organ, the antheridium.
Read More
bryophyteReproduction and life cycleThe male sex organ, the antheridium, is a saclike structure made up of a jacket of sterile cells one cell thick; it encloses many cells, each of which, when mature, produces one sperm. The antheridium is usually attached to the gametophyte by a slender stalk. When wet, the jacket of…
Read MoreThe male sex organ, the antheridium, is a saclike structure made up of a jacket of sterile cells one cell thick; it encloses many cells, each of which, when mature, produces one sperm. The antheridium is usually attached to the gametophyte by a slender stalk. When wet, the jacket of…
Read More
plantDefinition of the categoryare called archegonia; male gametangia, antheridia. At maturity, archegonia each contain one egg, and antheridia produce many sperm cells. Because the egg is retained and fertilized within the archegonium, the early stages of the developing sporophyte are protected and nourished by the gametophytic tissue. The young undifferentiated sporophyte is called…
Read Moreare called archegonia; male gametangia, antheridia. At maturity, archegonia each contain one egg, and antheridia produce many sperm cells. Because the egg is retained and fertilized within the archegonium, the early stages of the developing sporophyte are protected and nourished by the gametophytic tissue. The young undifferentiated sporophyte is called…
Read More
fernSexual reproductionThe sperm-producing organ, the antheridium, consists of a jacket of sterile cells with sperm-producing cells inside. Antheridia may be sunken (as in the families Ophioglossaceae and Marattiaceae) or protruding. They vary in size from those with hundreds of sperm to those with only 12 or so. The egg-producing organ,…
Read MoreThe sperm-producing organ, the antheridium, consists of a jacket of sterile cells with sperm-producing cells inside. Antheridia may be sunken (as in the families Ophioglossaceae and Marattiaceae) or protruding. They vary in size from those with hundreds of sperm to those with only 12 or so. The egg-producing organ,…
Read More
plantHomosporous life historiesEach antheridium (male gametangium) forms many motile flagellate sperm, and each archegonium (female gametangium) forms one nonmotile egg. Fusion of an egg and a sperm (syngamy) creates a zygote and restores the 2n ploidy level. Various mechanisms prevent the fusion of eggs and sperm from a…
Read MoreEach antheridium (male gametangium) forms many motile flagellate sperm, and each archegonium (female gametangium) forms one nonmotile egg. Fusion of an egg and a sperm (syngamy) creates a zygote and restores the 2n ploidy level. Various mechanisms prevent the fusion of eggs and sperm from a…
Read More

