Difference between revisions of "Moss"

''Moss'' is one of the few forms of plant life occurring naturally in [[Westarctica]]. It is a small flowerless plant that typically grows in dense green clumps or mats. The individual plants are usually composed of simple leaves that are generally only one cell thick, attached to a stem that may be branched or unbranched and has only a limited role in conducting water and nutrients. Although some species have conducting tissues, these are generally poorly developed and structurally different from similar tissue found in vascular plants. Mosses do not have seeds and after fertilization develop sporophytes with unbranched stalks topped with single capsules containing spores.

''Moss'' is one of the few forms of plant life occurring naturally in [[Westarctica]]. It is a small flowerless plant that typically grows in dense green clumps or mats. The individual plants are usually composed of simple leaves that are generally only one cell thick, attached to a stem that may be branched or unbranched and has only a limited role in conducting water and nutrients. Although some species have conducting tissues, these are generally poorly developed and structurally different from similar tissue found in vascular plants. Mosses do not have seeds and after fertilization develop sporophytes with unbranched stalks topped with single capsules containing spores.

===Reproduction===

===Reproduction===

The dominant stage in the life cycle of mosses is the sexually reproducing gametophyte plant stage. However due to the extreme environmental conditions under which these plants exist, most reproduction occurs asexually from a deciduous shoot apex or other specialized asexual reproductive structures, called gemmae. Sexual reproductive structures may be present on the gametophyte, although male and female organs are rarely found on the same plant. In many cases the sporophyte stage, produced after sexual reproduction, is completely absent among Antarctic mosses.

The dominant stage in the life cycle of mosses is the sexually reproducing gametophyte plant stage. However due to the extreme environmental conditions under which these plants exist, most reproduction occurs asexually from a deciduous shoot apex or other specialized asexual reproductive structures, called gemmae. Sexual reproductive structures may be present on the gametophyte, although male and female organs are rarely found on the same plant. In many cases the sporophyte stage, produced after sexual reproduction, is completely absent among Antarctic mosses.