Funaria - Diagram, Classification, Structure, Reproduction

Funaria: Funaria, also known as 'cord moss,' is made up of approximately 210 species, 18 of which can be found in India. The name Funaria comes from the Latin word 'Funis,' which means rope.  It is a cosmopolitan bryophyte that grows in both tropical and temperate regions around the world. This moss thrives in moist and shaded areas, forming dense patches of bright green colour. It can be found in a variety of habitats, including river banks, damp walls, rock crevices, humid soils, and tree trunks. Funaria capsules are divided into three parts: apophasis, operculum, and theca. Apophasis serves as the sterile base of the cell. The article below provides more information on Funaria, including its characteristics, classification, and reproduction.

Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants

Funaria Diagram

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Funaria Classification

PROKARYOTIC CELLS

Funaria Structure

• The dominant and visible stage of the Funaria life cycle.
• It consists of leafy stems, rhizoids, and reproductive structures.
• The leafy stem is the main body, bearing spirally arranged leaves.
• Rhizoids are hair-like structures that anchor the plant and absorb water and nutrients.

• Small, simple, and usually lanceolate in shape.
• Arranged spirally around the stem.
• Each leaf has a single midrib and lacks a differentiated vein pattern.

• Funaria reproduces sexually through structures called antheridia and archegonia.
• Antheridia produce male gametes (sperm), while archegonia produce female gametes (eggs).
• These structures are usually found at the tips of the gametophyte.

• The funaria sporophyte is the diploid, spore-producing stage of the life cycle.
• It grows from the fertilized egg (zygote) and remains attached to the gametophyte.
• The funaria sporophyte consists of a foot, seta, and capsule.
• The foot anchors the sporophyte to the gametophyte.
• The seta is a stalk that elevates the capsule.
• The capsule contains spores produced by meiosis.
• The capsule is often divided into three parts: apophysis, operculum, and theca.

• Apophysis: The swollen, basal part of the capsule.
• Operculum: The lid-like structure at the top of the capsule.
• Theca: The main body of the capsule containing spores.

• It is produced inside the capsule through meiosis.
• Dispersed by wind or water to colonise new habitats and start new gametophyte plants.

Connective Tissue

Funaria Characteristics

1. Dominant Gametophyte Phase: Funaria mosses have a life cycle where the gametophyte phase is dominant and photosynthetic.
2. Leafy Gametophyte Structure: The gametophyte of Funaria species consists of leafy stems that are simple and unbranched. The leaves spiral around the stem and are usually one cell layer thick.
3. Rhizoids: Funaria species have multicellular rhizoids that anchor the plant and absorb water and nutrients from the environment.
4. Sexual Reproduction: Funaria mosses reproduce sexually through male and female gametangia. Male gametangia (antheridia) produce sperm, while female gametangia (archegonia) produce eggs. Fertilization occurs when sperm reach and fertilize the eggs.
5. Spore Capsules: A funaria capsule develops at the tip of the seta (stalk), containing spores after fertilization. The capsule releases spores that germinate into new gametophytes.
6. Ecological Role: Funaria species contribute to soil formation and nutrient cycling. They can also indicate environmental conditions like moisture levels and air quality.
7. Habitat: Funaria mosses are commonly found in moist, shaded habitats such as forests, woodlands, and wetlands. They can also grow in disturbed areas like burned sites or areas with exposed soil.

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Funaria Reproduction

Vegetative Reproduction of Funaria

1. Primary Protonema: Spores germinate to form primary protonema, which are branched, filamentous, multicellular structures. These cells break into fragments, leading to the development of new protonemal cells, which eventually grow into leafy gametophores.
2. Secondary Protonema: If protonema develops from means other than spore germination, it's termed secondary protonema. It can arise from broken or injured rhizoids, stems, or leaves, giving rise to a new gametophore.
3. Bulbils: These are small resting buds that arise from the rhizoids. In favorable conditions, bulbils divide and produce filamentous protonema, which can grow into leafy gametophytes.
4. Gemmae: When conditions are unfavorable, terminal cells of the protonema divide to form 10-30 celled green bodies known as gemmae. These structures divide further in favorable conditions, developing into new plants.
5. Apospory: This is the development of a gametophyte from a sporophyte without spore formation. Vegetative cells of the sporophyte give rise to green protonemal fragments, which later develop into a gametophyte. The gametophyte produced from apospory is diploid, leading to the formation of tetraploid and sterile sporophytes.

Female Gametophyte

Sexual Reproduction of Funaria

Vegetative Propagation

Antheridium

Archegonium

Funaria Life Cycle

Fertilisation

Sporophyte

1. Foot: This swollen basal part of the sporophyte is embedded in the convex tip of the female branch. It consists of parenchymal cells and attaches the sporophyte to the gametophyte, aiding in nutrient absorption.
2. Seta: A long reddish-brown cylindrical structure connecting the capsule to the foot. It comprises an outer epidermis, a middle cortex, and a central cylinder, carrying food and water from the foot to the capsule.
3. Capsule: The capsule is the sporophyte's body where spores develop. It can be green, yellow, or orange, and pear-shaped. It consists of three parts:

• Apophysis: The basal sterile part of the capsule in direct contact with the seta, comprising an outer epidermis, a middle cortex, and a central cylinder for food and water conduction.
• Theca: The middle portion containing a central sterile core (columella) surrounded by a spore sac with spore mother cells undergoing meiosis to produce spores.
• Lid: The sterile terminal portion with an outer thick-walled epidermis and inner thin-walled parenchymatous layers. It is separated from the theca by a narrow constriction and contains a ring of peristome teeth involved in capsule dehiscence.

Capsule Dehiscence

Spore Germination