Question

Examine the figure given below and select the right option giving all the four parts (a, b, c and d) correctly identified.

• A. (a) - Archegoniophore, (b) - Female thallus, (c) - Gemmacup, (d) - Rhizoids
• B. (a) - Archegoniophore, (b) - Female thallus, (c) - Bud, (d) - Foot
• C. (a) - Seta, (b) - Sporophyte, (c) - Protonema, (d) - Rhizoids
• D. (a) - Antheridiophore, (b) - Male thallus, (c) - Globule, (d) - Roots

Answer 1

The correct option is A (a) - Archegoniophore, (b) - Female thallus, (c) - Gemmacup, (d) - Rhizoids

The female gametangiophore is called an archegoniophore; it grows up from the thallus and consists of a stalk and an archegonial head with pendant (hanging) lobes or fingers. The gametophyte plant body is called a thallus, which means that it lacks xylem and phloem and therefore does not have true stem, true leaf or true root. The gemma cups are cup-like structures containing gemmae. The gemmae are small discs of haploid tissue, and they directly give rise to new gametophytes. They are dispersed from gemma cups by rainfall. Rhizoids are simple hair-like protuberances that extend from the lower epidermal cells of bryophytes, Rhodophyta and pteridophytes. They are similar in structure and function to the root hairs of vascular land plants. Rhizoids absorb water by capillary action, in which water moves up between threads of rhizoids.