Question

What are Gemmae cups?

Answer 1

Gemmae cups are cup-like structures containing gemmae. The gemmae are small discs of haploid tissue and they directly give rise to new gametophytes. A gemma (plural gemmae) is a single cell or a mass of cells, or a modified bud of tissue, that detaches from the parent and develops into a new individual. It is a means of asexual propagation in plants. They are dispersed from gemma cups by rainfall.