Moss+Life+Cycle

=Moss Life Cycle=

Now let's take a closer look at the moss life cycle.

Taken from http://biology.clc.uc.edu/courses/Bio106/mosses.htm

Gametes are released from the male and female gametophytes. Sperm is released from the antheridia in male plant. This sperm travels to the egg that is within the archegonia of the female plant. These gametes (and the gametophytes) are haploid (1n). When the sperm joins the egg, a zygote is created and from this the sporophyte grows. This sporophyte is diploid (2n). This sporophyte consists of a seta (stalk) and a sporangium. The sporangium contains the spores (2n) and these are released once the calyptra and the operculum are removed. When these spores germinate on a desirable substrate, a gametophyte begins to grow. Thus, the cycle continues.