Polytrichum commune moss seen from directly above. The brown structures are male sexual organs,which produce sperm. Mosses have a more primitive means of reproduction than higher plants,and do not produce flowers or seeds. The main body of a moss plant,the gametophyte,grows from a single spore. Male and female sex organs develop on the gameto- phyte,and produce sperm and eggs. In Polytrichum the male organs are much more conspicuous than the female organs. The sperm swim through a film of moisture on the plant's surface to the female org- an,where the egg is then fertilised to form the sporophyte (not seen). This grows on a stalk on top of the gametophyte and produces new spores | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Burgess, Dr. Jeremy |
Bildgröße: | 2480 px × 3632 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |