The Life Cycle
of Moss - Plants
Without Flowers
(1) The mature male &
female moss plants are
called gameteophytes
because they produce
gametes (egg or sperm)
(3) Each fertilized egg is called a
zygote (diploid) . The fertilized egg
(developing sporophyte) begins to
grow.
(2) Mature sperm leave the
antheridium & swim through a film
of water to fertilize the eggs found
in a structure called the
archegonium. Water must be
present for successful fertilization!
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(5) The final result is a spore capsule
on the top of a thin stalk.
(4) The
fertilized egg
(developing
sporophyte)
begins to
grow.
Capsule
Mature sporophyte
(6)The spores in the
capsule are produced
by meiosis (haploid).
A cover or hood falls
off the capsule. Next,
a cap drops off to
release the spores.
(7,8) The spores
that land in a
suitable area will
begin to
germinate
(young
gametophyte).
Most spores
would not
germinate.
Parent gametophyte
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