The lifecycle of a Bryophyte can be very long and complicated, as it goes through two reproductive stages during its life which can also be identified as Alternation of Generations. The typical lifecycle of a moss starts when one of its spores lands in a mosit place. It germinates and grows into a mass of tangled green filaments called a protonemia. As the protonemia grows, it will form rhizoids that grow into the ground and shoots that grow into the air. The Green Moss plants you will see are a result of the shoots growth and development. This is the gametophyte stage of its life cycle. Gametes are formed as reproductive structures at the tips of the gametophytes. Sperm with flaggenlent or whiplike tails are produced in the antheridium and egg cells are produced in archegonium. Once the sperm is released and reaches the egg cells, the process of fertilization takes place! This process creates a diploid zygote which is the very start of the sporophyte stage. The zygote will grow directly out of the gametophyte and depend on it for water and nutrients as it grows bigger and bigger each day. Once the mature sporophyte has grow it will take the shape of a long stalk with a capsule located at the top. Inside the capsule are haploid spores which are produced by meosis! When the capsule ripens and the environmental conditions are right ( windy and humid) the capsule will open and wind-borne reproductive sores will scatter everywhere to start the cycle again!
Mosses, Hornworts and Liverworts are all prime examples of Bryohpytes that will go through this long process in order to reproduce themselves.
Mosses, Hornworts and Liverworts are all prime examples of Bryohpytes that will go through this long process in order to reproduce themselves.