Tag: plant kingdom

There are two different developmental stages of the gametophyte: the Protonema, and the gametophore. The Protonema is the first part of the moss that develops from the germinating spore.

Funaria is known as common moss or green moss. The plant body is foliose that consists of stem axis which bears many leaves and instead of roots, rhizoids are present. It is gametophytic (n) and independent. It bears antheridia and archegonia on the same plant but on different branches.

After many years of vegetative growth sex organs develop on Cycas sporophytes in the form of cones or strobili. Cycas is dioecious i.e. male cone and female cone (lax) born on separate sporophytes. The male sporophyte is heterogametic having sex chromosomes-XY while the female sporophyte is homogametic having sex chromosomes-XX.

Funaria is known as common moss or green moss or cord moss. The main plant body of Funaria is gametophyte and is of two forms.

(1) Juvenile form (creeping protonema).

(2) Adult form (leafy gametophore).

It is characterized by filamentous setae, a gibbous obtusely pyriform capsule, and usually a double peristome of 16 teeth. Clorella, Volvox and Spirulina belongs to the phylum Algae (Thallophyta).

Sphagnum do  not decay readily because of the phenolic compounds embedded in the moss's cell walls. Peat moss can also acidify its surroundings by taking up cations, such as calcium and magnesium and releasing hydrogen ions. Due to presence of hyaline cells, they have the large water-holding capacity.

The moss sporophyte is completely dependent upon the gametophyte for its nutrition. The sporophyte is responsible for producing spores.

The apical portion of the capsule is specialised to regulate spore discharge. It matures into operculum and peristome at maturity, the operculum falls exposing the underlying peristome, which surrounds the mouth of the dehiscent capsule.

The Funaria plants are monoecious and autoecious, i.e., male (antheridia, club shaped) and female (archegonia, flask shaped) reproductive organs are produced on, the same plant but on different branches. 

The terms, 'caulonema' and 'chloronema' for protonema of Funaria were given by Bopp. Bopp (1961) found that the caulonema stage, and thus the bud stage, can be delayed by low temperature, submersion, or low light.

• Moss peat is decayed dried sphagnum moss. It is hygroscopic, i.e. it has the ability to hold water either by absorption or adsorption. Its use as packing material for sending flowers and live plants to distant places helps to keep flowers and plants fresh.
• Hence Moss peat is used as a packing material and for sending flowers and live plants to distant places because it is hygroscopic.
• So, the correct answer is 'Hygroscopic'.