Plant Biology and Classification

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).

The sporogonium in Funaria develops at the apex of the female shoot (gametophore) after fertilization.

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.

Bryophytes are composed of true parenchyma derived from three-dimensional growth usually from an apical meristem. Stems in mosses are multicellular and can show a surprising amount of tissue differentiation depending on the species of moss. Typically,  most mosses have cortical cells (also called parenchyma cells) that compose much of the stem, and thick walled cells, for structural support.

In Mosses, column of cells running up the middle of the sterile jacket is called as columella.

The protonema is an elongate, thread-like structure that develops from the germinated spore of mosses. The protonemal stage is the best-studied part of bryophyte development. 

Moss gametophytes are either erect or extensively branched prostrate plants, that consist of an axis (commonly called a stem) bearing spirally arranged leaf-like appendages (usually referred to as leaves); more often than not, they are anchored to the substratum by branched multicellular filaments called rhizoids. The leafy shoot of mosses is haploid and thus part of the gametophyte generation. Liverworts and Hornworts have dorsiventrally flattened plant body. 

Ferns and moss are both examples of primitive plants. They are flowerless or seedless plants. Fern and Funaria both are flowerless and seedless.

The zygote, which develops into the sporophyte, is formed and begins its development within the venter of the archegonium.

Funaria is a bryophyte and lacks true vascular tissues, including true roots, stems, and leaves. Pteridium is a pteridophyte and possesses true roots.

The capsule of the Funaria sporophyte contains an apophysis region which possesses stomata for gas exchange.