Funaria | Introduction of funaria life cycle and morphology | Bryophytes

Funaria



Class – Bryopsida



Order- Funariales



Family – Funariaceae



Genus – Funaria



Funaria is commonly called ‘cord moss’. It is distributed throughout the world. Funaria hygrometrica is the common species. It grows in close tufts on rocks, trunks of trees, damp walls and damp soils. They help in the process of soil formation (Pedogenesis).
External features
The plant body is a gametophyte. It is small, 1 to 3 cm high and consists of slender erect radial stem covered with small, simple leaf like structures arranged in a spiral manner. The gametophyte is attached to the substratum by means of multicellular rhizoids. They are characterized by the presence of oblique septa. The leaves are simple, sessile ovate and have broad membranous base and pointed apex.
Internal structure
T.S. of axis


The T.S. of axis shows the presence of epidermis, cortex and central cylinder. The epidermis is the outermost layer and contain chloroplast bearing cells. The cortex is made up of parenchymatous tissue. The cells of the young axis bear chloroplasts. In mature stems the outermost cells become reddish brown colour and become thick walled. Small leaf traces are also noticed. The central cylinder is made up of long, narrow, thin walled, colourless cells which lack protoplasts. They help in the conduction of water and mineral
Vegetative reproduction


Vegetative reproduction takes place by the following methods (Figure 2.20):



1. Fragmentation of primary protonema,



2. Formation of secondary protonema from any part of the gametophyte



3. Formation of gemmae on terminal cells of the protonema.



4. Development of Bulbils on the rhizoids."Sexual reproduction
 

Funaria is monoecious the male and female reproductive sex organs are borne on different branches of the same gametophyte. Male sex organ is antheridium and it is formed in groups on the antheridial branch.They are enclosed by special leaves called perigonial leaves. A large number of long multicellular hairs interspersed with antherdia called paraphysis are also present. They contain chloroplast and are involved in photosynthesis. They protect antheridial head from by minimizing transpiration, hold water between them through capillary action and secrete mucilage which helps in the liberation of antherozoids. Each antheridium is protected by single layer of jacket. It encloses a large mass of androcytes. The androcytes transform in to biflagellate antherozoids "
The female sex organ are the archegonia and are borne in clusters on the archegonial branch. Archegonial branches arise laterally at the base of the male branch. They are surrounded by perichaetial leaves. Paraphyses are also present. Each archegonium is flask shaped and is distinguished into a large venter and long neck region. The venter contains venter canal cell and egg. The neck contain neck canal cells (Figure 2.21). Water is essential for fertilization. Rain drops help in the transfer of antherozoids from antheridial head to archegonial head. The antherozoids are attracted to the archegonium through chemotaxis. A large number of antherozoids enter the neck of the archegonium but only one fuses with the egg to form a diploid zygote. The diploid zygote represents the first cell of sporophytic generation and divides to form a sporophyte.

Structure of Sporophyte or capsule
The structure of mature sporophyte of Funaria is complex. The sporophyte is differentiated into foot, seta and capsule (Figure 2.22) . The foot is small, conical and is embedded in the gametophyte.

Видео Funaria | Introduction of funaria life cycle and morphology | Bryophytes канала Chaudhary Munawar