Plant Reproduction Basics
Plants alternate between two life phases during reproduction - the gametophyte (produces gametes) and the sporophyte (produces spores). As plants evolved, the dominant phase shifted from gametophyte to sporophyte. Gametophytes contain structures called antheridium (where sperm forms) and archegonium (where eggs develop).
Bryophytes like mosses represent early land plants that still depend heavily on water. They can reproduce asexually through fragmentation, but sexual reproduction requires water for their swimming sperm to reach eggs. Some bryophytes are bisexual with both male and female parts on one plant, while others have separate male and female plants.
Ferns show evolutionary advancement with their dominant sporophyte phase. They can reproduce asexually using rhizomes (horizontal underground stems) that create clones. For sexual reproduction, they develop special chambers called sori that produce spores, which are dispersed by wind.
💡 The evolution of plant reproduction shows a clear trend: as plants became more advanced, they developed better ways to protect their reproductive cells and became less dependent on water for reproduction.