This document summarizes the morphological, anatomical, and reproductive characteristics of the moss species Funaria. It describes the gametophyte structure including rhizoids, stem, and leaves. Anatomically, it details the layers of the stem and leaf structures. Sexual reproduction involves antheridia and archegonia that develop on separate plants. Fertilization results in a sporophyte structure including foot, seta, and capsule. The capsule contains spores that are dispersed upon dehiscence involving several stages including drying, tearing of spore sacs, and movement of peristome teeth.
4. Habit and distribution
• 117 species
• 15 spp in India
• Funaria hygrometrica – best known among mosses and found throughout the
world
• Grow luxuriantly in humus rich soil and burnt soil
• Also occur on rocks and damp soil
• Some are epiphytic and grow on tree trunks
5. Gametophyte
Morphology:
• Appear as velvety mats
• Gametophyte – also called as
gametophore (bears sex organs)
• Differentiated into rhizoids, stem and
leaves
• Green, erect and 1-3 cm in height
• Stem is branched – monopodial type
• Rhizoids – at base of gametophyte –
branched, multicellular and thread-
like, contain oil, but when exposed
to light, develop chlorophyll and
help in photosynthesis
• Leaves – small, ovate, bright green,
spirally arranged on stem, midrib
present, upper leaves bigger and
lower ones smaller, sessile, broad
base at point of attachment
6. Anatomy:
• Leaf – distinct midrib and wings
• Midrib – multilayered and thick
• Wings – single layered, cells contain
chloroplast – carbon assimilation
• Stem – a) epidermis, b) cortex and c)
central cylinder
• Epidermis – single layered,
outermost layer, compactly arranged
cells with chloroplasts – assimilatory
function, cuticle and stomata absent
• Cortex – multilayered,
parenchymatous cells, contain
chloroplast in earlier stages but later
disappear
• Central cylinder – thick walled,
compactly arranged cells, acts as
conducting tissue (water conduction)
7. Reproduction:
• Vegetative and sexual
Vegetative reproduction:
• a) by primary protonema – spore germinate – develop into primary
protonema – small buds – develop into new moss, protonema breaks up and
propagate vegetatively
• b) by secondary protonema – protonema develop from other plant parts than
spore. Detached part (leaf, stem, antheridium, rhizoids) – grow into new one
• c) by gemmae – small multicellular at leaf apices or sometimes on rhizoids
• d) by death and decay of prostrate system – decay of rhizoids – erect branch
behaves as independent plant
• e) Apospory – develop wounds on sporophytic tissue from which protonema
arise and develop into new plant – here it is by sporophytic tissue and not by
spores
8. Sexual reproduction
Antheridium
• 2 parts: stalk and main body
• Body surrounded by single layered
jacket – contain chloroplast – turn
red or brown on maturity
• Androcytes inside jacket layer
• At apical end of male branch,
antheridia intermingle with several
sterile paraphyses (hair-like
structures)
• Paraphysis – multicellular, 4-5 cells
arranges in uniseriate row, lower
cells elongated, upper cells globular
– indefinite function – assumed to
hold water for developing antheridia
• Dehiscence – presence of moisture
• Rain water and dew collected in
perichaetial leaves
• Develop apical pore – androcyte
squeezes out
9. Archegonium
• Archegonial stalk longer than
antheridial stalk
• Flask-shaped
• 3 parts: massive stalk, venter and
neck
• Venter – 2 layered jacket – egg and
venter canal cells
• Neck – 1 layered jacket – 6 or more
neck canal cells
• On maturation, venter canal cells
and neck canal cells disintegrate –
form mucilage
• Cover cells separate to form passage
10. Sporophyte
• Foot, seta and capsule
• Foot – small, conical, embedded in gametophyte, poorly developed, absorb
water and nutrients
• Seta – elongated, slender, and thread-like – bear capsule at apical end, cells
elongated, mechanical function
• Capsule – pear-shaped
• 3 parts: apophysis, theca and upper region
a) Apophysis – apical end of elongated seta, assimilatory function, stomata in
epidermis
11. b) theca – central fertile region of capsule, many layers
• Outermost layer – epidermis
• Hypodermis below epidermis
• Chlorenchyma tissue next to hypodermis – contain chloroplast –
photosynthesis
• Air spaces – transversed by trabeculae – 3-4 green cells – act as connection
between chlorenchyma and outer spore sac of capsule
• Central region – pith like cylinder – columella – narrow at base, broad at
apical end – connected to conducting strand of apophysis
• Columella surrounded by spore sac
• Spore sac – barrel-shaped, inner single layer, outer 3-4 layered
• In between outer an dinner spore sac are spore mother cells
• Spore mother cell – develop into spore tetrad of 4 spores
12. c) Upper region:
• Consists of operculum and peristome
• Operculum – 3-4 layers thick, outermost epidermal layer
• Rim is found in circular edge form – stretches inward from epidermis and
connects peristome to epidermis of capsule
• Peristome – lies beneath operculum
• Consists of 2 incurved teeth called inner (colourless) and outer peristome (red)
• Annulus found just above rim – 5-6 epidermal cells
• Dehiscence – dry up on maturation
• Columella and outer thin walled tissues lose water and shrink up
• Spore sac tear off
• Annulus break and operculum thrown off
• Peristome teeth move outward hygroscopically – spores disperse
14. References
• Pandey B.P. (2009). Botany for degree students: B.Sc. First
Year. S. Chand & Company Ltd. New Delhi.