Morphology, anatomy and reproduction in Funaria
- 1. Morphological, anatomical and reproductive character in Funaria Sankrita Gaonkar Assistant Professor in Botany [email protected]
- 2. Contents • Morphological, anatomical and reproductive character in Funaria • References
- 3. Funaria Classification • Class: Bryopsida (Musci) • Order: Funariales • Family: Funariaceae • Genus: Funaria
- 4. Habit and distribution • 117 species • 15 spp in India • Funaria hygrometrica – best known among mosses and found throughout the world • Grow luxuriantly in humus rich soil and burnt soil • Also occur on rocks and damp soil • Some are epiphytic and grow on tree trunks
- 5. Gametophyte Morphology: • Appear as velvety mats • Gametophyte – also called as gametophore (bears sex organs) • Differentiated into rhizoids, stem and leaves • Green, erect and 1-3 cm in height • Stem is branched – monopodial type • Rhizoids – at base of gametophyte – branched, multicellular and thread- like, contain oil, but when exposed to light, develop chlorophyll and help in photosynthesis • Leaves – small, ovate, bright green, spirally arranged on stem, midrib present, upper leaves bigger and lower ones smaller, sessile, broad base at point of attachment
- 6. Anatomy: • Leaf – distinct midrib and wings • Midrib – multilayered and thick • Wings – single layered, cells contain chloroplast – carbon assimilation • Stem – a) epidermis, b) cortex and c) central cylinder • Epidermis – single layered, outermost layer, compactly arranged cells with chloroplasts – assimilatory function, cuticle and stomata absent • Cortex – multilayered, parenchymatous cells, contain chloroplast in earlier stages but later disappear • Central cylinder – thick walled, compactly arranged cells, acts as conducting tissue (water conduction)
- 7. Reproduction: • Vegetative and sexual Vegetative reproduction: • a) by primary protonema – spore germinate – develop into primary protonema – small buds – develop into new moss, protonema breaks up and propagate vegetatively • b) by secondary protonema – protonema develop from other plant parts than spore. Detached part (leaf, stem, antheridium, rhizoids) – grow into new one • c) by gemmae – small multicellular at leaf apices or sometimes on rhizoids • d) by death and decay of prostrate system – decay of rhizoids – erect branch behaves as independent plant • e) Apospory – develop wounds on sporophytic tissue from which protonema arise and develop into new plant – here it is by sporophytic tissue and not by spores
- 8. Sexual reproduction Antheridium • 2 parts: stalk and main body • Body surrounded by single layered jacket – contain chloroplast – turn red or brown on maturity • Androcytes inside jacket layer • At apical end of male branch, antheridia intermingle with several sterile paraphyses (hair-like structures) • Paraphysis – multicellular, 4-5 cells arranges in uniseriate row, lower cells elongated, upper cells globular – indefinite function – assumed to hold water for developing antheridia • Dehiscence – presence of moisture • Rain water and dew collected in perichaetial leaves • Develop apical pore – androcyte squeezes out
- 9. Archegonium • Archegonial stalk longer than antheridial stalk • Flask-shaped • 3 parts: massive stalk, venter and neck • Venter – 2 layered jacket – egg and venter canal cells • Neck – 1 layered jacket – 6 or more neck canal cells • On maturation, venter canal cells and neck canal cells disintegrate – form mucilage • Cover cells separate to form passage
- 10. Sporophyte • Foot, seta and capsule • Foot – small, conical, embedded in gametophyte, poorly developed, absorb water and nutrients • Seta – elongated, slender, and thread-like – bear capsule at apical end, cells elongated, mechanical function • Capsule – pear-shaped • 3 parts: apophysis, theca and upper region a) Apophysis – apical end of elongated seta, assimilatory function, stomata in epidermis
- 11. b) theca – central fertile region of capsule, many layers • Outermost layer – epidermis • Hypodermis below epidermis • Chlorenchyma tissue next to hypodermis – contain chloroplast – photosynthesis • Air spaces – transversed by trabeculae – 3-4 green cells – act as connection between chlorenchyma and outer spore sac of capsule • Central region – pith like cylinder – columella – narrow at base, broad at apical end – connected to conducting strand of apophysis • Columella surrounded by spore sac • Spore sac – barrel-shaped, inner single layer, outer 3-4 layered • In between outer an dinner spore sac are spore mother cells • Spore mother cell – develop into spore tetrad of 4 spores
- 12. c) Upper region: • Consists of operculum and peristome • Operculum – 3-4 layers thick, outermost epidermal layer • Rim is found in circular edge form – stretches inward from epidermis and connects peristome to epidermis of capsule • Peristome – lies beneath operculum • Consists of 2 incurved teeth called inner (colourless) and outer peristome (red) • Annulus found just above rim – 5-6 epidermal cells • Dehiscence – dry up on maturation • Columella and outer thin walled tissues lose water and shrink up • Spore sac tear off • Annulus break and operculum thrown off • Peristome teeth move outward hygroscopically – spores disperse
- 14. References • Pandey B.P. (2009). Botany for degree students: B.Sc. First Year. S. Chand & Company Ltd. New Delhi.