Some bryophytes, such as the liverwort Marchantia, create elaborate structures to bear the gametangia that are called gametangiophores. |
The development of gametangia provided further protection specifically for gametes. |
The gametophyte consists of unicellular sterile hairs and lateral gametangia. |
Both gametangia form from a stereotyped series of divisions of a terminal apical cell, unlike the gametangia of liverworts and hornworts. |
Distinguishing features among the studied species are size of the spores, germination time, time of formation of the gametangia, and thallus margin shape. |
Gametophytes, which may be either monicous or dioicous, produce gametangia in modified apices. |