HSEB botany notes | Vegetative reproduction in Funaria (Moss) :

Vegetative reproduction in Funaria (Moss) :

In this method new plants are produced from vegetative part of the plant.

It take place by following methods:

1. Primary protonema : The multicellular branched filamantous structure which bears

buds are calledas primary protonema. The protonema formed by germination of spores is callled as

primary protonema. The branches containg buds if seperate due disintegration of incalary cell

or by orther mean, each bud develop into new plant.

2. Seconday protonema : It is developed from any vegetative part of plant body other

than spore. Seonday protonema is similar to primary protonema in structure and

function . Their individual buds give rise to new plant.

3. Gemma : Gemma are the small multicellular structure developed from terminal cell

of protonema.If they get detached from parent body by any means, each gemma give rise

to new plant.

4. Tubers : Tubers are similar to gemma in function and structure excpet they develop from

rhizoid under unfavourable condition. When they get detached from the rhizoid,

each of them give rise to new plant under favourable condition.

5. Apospory : Apospory is the phenomenon of development of new plant directly from

wounded part of sporophyte whiout the occurance of meiosis cell division. The plant which

HSEB botany notes | Morphology of funaria

The plant body of moss plant is foliose (Differentiated into axis and leaves) and gametophyte. The gametophytic body has upright , slender, and stem like axis which is about 1.3 or 1-3 cm long. The plant body is divided into rhizoid, stem and leaves :

1.   Rhizoid : It is borne from the basal part of the stem. It is multiccelar with oblique septa. At the young age it is colourless and thin walled and with maturity it becomes thick walled and yellowish brown or dark.brownish in colour. It fix plant the substratum and absorb water and mineral from soil.

2.   Axis : It is upright , erect , slender and green in colour. The branching is monopodial (branches arise from only one side of the plant) and extra auxiliary. The branches arise from lower portion of the plant. 

3.   Leaves : leaves are simple, sessile, erect and ovate with slightly serrate margin. It is bright green coloured with spirally arranged leaves on the steam. Each leaf has distinct midrib. The upper part of leaves is larger and crowded at the apex of the stem and lower part if the leaf is smaller and scattered on the stem.