MOSSES
Female gametophytes of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha.
Clusters of yellow spores are leaving sporangia placed on the lower surface of the umbrella-like sporophyte.
Spherical spores are catapulted out from sporangia by double-spiral elaters. Photomicrographs, prim. magn. 200× and 400×.
The capsules (sporangia) of the moss Polytrichum are covered by caplike opercula.
The operculum is fixed by teeth of the peristome (inset).
When the teeth of the rim release the operculum, the peristome opens and yellow spores may leave.
Capsules with their opercula from another mosses.
A leaf of a water moss. Its cells are filled with green chloroplasts.
