sporangium
Quick Summary
A sporangium is a biological structure that produces and contains spores. These spores are reproductive cells that can develop into new individuals without fusing with another reproductive cell, functioning similarly to seeds in plants. Sporangia are found in various organisms, including bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants.1
In ferns, sporangia are typically found in clusters called sori on the undersides of leaves. These structures can vary in size and form, with two main types: eusporangia, which arise from multiple cells and have thicker walls, and leptosporangia, which develop from a single cell and have thin walls. Leptosporangia often possess an annulus, a specialized row of cells that aids in the explosive release of spores. Some ferns, like horsetails, have sporangia borne on specialized structures called sporangiophores.23
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plant developmentPreparatory eventsThe female sporangium has one or two coats, or integuments, except for an opening (micropyle) at one end; the sporangium with an integument is called the ovule. The female gametophyte, known in this group as the embryo sac, develops from the parent spore while it is still…
Read MoreThe female sporangium has one or two coats, or integuments, except for an opening (micropyle) at one end; the sporangium with an integument is called the ovule. The female gametophyte, known in this group as the embryo sac, develops from the parent spore while it is still…
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plantHomosporous life histories…number of spores produced per sporangium ranges from 16 or 32 in some pteridophytes to more than 65 million in some mosses. The sporangia may be borne in specialized structures, such as sori in ferns or as cones (strobili) in many other pteridophytes. The leaflike structures that bear sporangia are…
Read More…number of spores produced per sporangium ranges from 16 or 32 in some pteridophytes to more than 65 million in some mosses. The sporangia may be borne in specialized structures, such as sori in ferns or as cones (strobili) in many other pteridophytes. The leaflike structures that bear sporangia are…
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plant reproductive systemLiverworts and hornworts…anchors the spore-bearing capsule (sporangium) to the gametophyte and probably serves an absorptive function. The seta connects the foot and the capsule. The elongation of the seta raises the capsule from its protective envelopes, thus placing it in a favourable position for spore dispersal. The capsules of liverworts may…
Read More…anchors the spore-bearing capsule (sporangium) to the gametophyte and probably serves an absorptive function. The seta connects the foot and the capsule. The elongation of the seta raises the capsule from its protective envelopes, thus placing it in a favourable position for spore dispersal. The capsules of liverworts may…
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bryophyteReproduction and life cycleMature bryophytes have a single sporangium (spore-producing structure) on each sporophyte. The sporangium generally terminates an elongate stalk, or seta, when the sporangium is ready to shed its spores. The sporangium rupture usually involves specialized structures that enhance expulsion of the spores away from the parent gametophyte.
Read MoreMature bryophytes have a single sporangium (spore-producing structure) on each sporophyte. The sporangium generally terminates an elongate stalk, or seta, when the sporangium is ready to shed its spores. The sporangium rupture usually involves specialized structures that enhance expulsion of the spores away from the parent gametophyte.
Read More- bryophyteForm and function
The sporangium differentiates after the seta elongates and is protected from injury and drying by the calyptra.
Read MoreThe sporangium differentiates after the seta elongates and is protected from injury and drying by the calyptra.
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EquisetopsidaLife cycle…ring of 5 to 10 sporangia, each one opening and shedding spores by a longitudinal slit on its inner side. The Carboniferous treelike horsetails and their smaller allies are believed to have possessed the most elaborate reproductive strobili known among the vascular plants.
Read More…ring of 5 to 10 sporangia, each one opening and shedding spores by a longitudinal slit on its inner side. The Carboniferous treelike horsetails and their smaller allies are believed to have possessed the most elaborate reproductive strobili known among the vascular plants.
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fernThe sporangiumThe spore cases, or spore-producing structures, in ferns range from globose sessile (nonstalked) organs more than 1 mm (0.04 inch) in diameter down to microscopic stalked structures, the capsules of which are only 0.3 mm (0.01 inch) in diameter. The former are known as…
Read MoreThe spore cases, or spore-producing structures, in ferns range from globose sessile (nonstalked) organs more than 1 mm (0.04 inch) in diameter down to microscopic stalked structures, the capsules of which are only 0.3 mm (0.01 inch) in diameter. The former are known as…
Read More- plantSubclass Polypodiidae
…sorus) is composed of many sporangia, or spore cases, which are joined by a stalk to the sporophyll. The spore case is flattened, with a layer of sterile, or nonfertile, cells surrounding the spore mother cells. Each spore mother cell divides by reduction division (meiosis) to produce haploid spores, which…
Read More…sorus) is composed of many sporangia, or spore cases, which are joined by a stalk to the sporophyll. The spore case is flattened, with a layer of sterile, or nonfertile, cells surrounding the spore mother cells. Each spore mother cell divides by reduction division (meiosis) to produce haploid spores, which…
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fungusSporophores and spores…primitive fungi produce spores in sporangia, which are saclike sporophores whose entire cytoplasmic contents cleave into spores, called sporangiospores. Thus, they differ from more advanced fungi in that their asexual spores are endogenous. Sporangiospores are either naked and flagellated (zoospores) or walled and nonmotile (aplanospores). The more primitive aquatic and…
Read More…primitive fungi produce spores in sporangia, which are saclike sporophores whose entire cytoplasmic contents cleave into spores, called sporangiospores. Thus, they differ from more advanced fungi in that their asexual spores are endogenous. Sporangiospores are either naked and flagellated (zoospores) or walled and nonmotile (aplanospores). The more primitive aquatic and…
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lycophyteGeneral featuresThe sporangia (spore cases) occur singly on the adaxial side (the upper side facing the stem) of the leaf. The lycophytes generally bear conelike structures called strobili, which are tight aggregations of sporophylls (sporangium-bearing leaves).
Read MoreThe sporangia (spore cases) occur singly on the adaxial side (the upper side facing the stem) of the leaf. The lycophytes generally bear conelike structures called strobili, which are tight aggregations of sporophylls (sporangium-bearing leaves).
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moss…structure and specialization of their sporangia (spore cases). The stemlike and leaflike structures of moss plants constitute the gametophytic (sexual) generation. The sporophytic (asexual) generation develops from the gametophyte and usually consists of a raised stalk, or seta, which terminates in the sporangium. The sporangium remains dependent on the gametophyte,…
Read More…structure and specialization of their sporangia (spore cases). The stemlike and leaflike structures of moss plants constitute the gametophytic (sexual) generation. The sporophytic (asexual) generation develops from the gametophyte and usually consists of a raised stalk, or seta, which terminates in the sporangium. The sporangium remains dependent on the gametophyte,…
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peat mossEach spherical brown sporangium, or spore case, shrinks as it dries, creating internal pressure that casts off the lid (operculum) and shoots the spores as far as 10 cm (4 inches) from the plant. The metabolic processes of growing peat moss cause an increase in the acidity of…
Read MoreEach spherical brown sporangium, or spore case, shrinks as it dries, creating internal pressure that casts off the lid (operculum) and shoots the spores as far as 10 cm (4 inches) from the plant. The metabolic processes of growing peat moss cause an increase in the acidity of…
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Pteridaceae…characterized by spore-producing structures (sporangia) located in lines along the veins or at the vein tips. As leptosporangiate ferns, members of Pteridaceae have sporangia that characteristically arise from a single cell. These structures may be unprotected (lacking indusium) in grooves or covered by the rolled leaf margin (false indusium).…
Read More…characterized by spore-producing structures (sporangia) located in lines along the veins or at the vein tips. As leptosporangiate ferns, members of Pteridaceae have sporangia that characteristically arise from a single cell. These structures may be unprotected (lacking indusium) in grooves or covered by the rolled leaf margin (false indusium).…
Read More- Schizaeaceae
…the characteristic large individually produced sporangia (spore-bearing structures) with a ring of thickened cells known as the annulus around the apex; the sporangia are usually borne on special leaflets and lack a covering membrane. Underground, the ferns usually feature highly branched rhizomes that either form clumps or are creeping.
Read More…the characteristic large individually produced sporangia (spore-bearing structures) with a ring of thickened cells known as the annulus around the apex; the sporangia are usually borne on special leaflets and lack a covering membrane. Underground, the ferns usually feature highly branched rhizomes that either form clumps or are creeping.
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