Hepatophyta Life Cycle

Hepatophyta is a type of moss known as liverwort. In the past, liverwort was used to help cure problems with the liver, although this proved to be ineffectual. Like most mosses, liverwort is common and well known. It shares many familiar traits with most mosses, including a common life cycle.

  1. Haploid Spore

    • The haploid spore is the object that grows on hepatophyta that begins its life cycle. Within this spore, there are the chemicals necessary to create the sexual organs that will begin its life. These spores fall off of the plants during their mating season. Each plant in the hepatophyta family is either male or female. These spores will fall off and begin to germinate. The germination process initiates the change to actual sexual organs.

    Protonema

    • The protonema is different depending on the species of hepatophyta. In some, it is a mass of filaments. In other species, it is thalloid, which means flat. This is what the haploid spore will become. It is not yet ready to become a complete sexual organ. This is simply a growth transition to the next stage in the hepatophyta's life cycle.

    Gametophore

    • The gametophore (or gamete-bearer) is the producer of the sex organs. The female sex organs are called archenognia. These are protected by the perichateum. The female sex organs have a long neck that helps protect their fragile centers from insects and diseases. They also help protect the male sperm from attack. The male organs are called antheridia and protected by perigonium. These produce the sperm that will create new life.

    Germination

    • After these sexual organs have formed, the male releases its sperm to find female plants. Water must be present for the fertilization process to begin. Without water, the sperm will not be released. Once it is released, it will swim down the archegonia. Here, it will begin fertilization. A diploid sporophyte will be created. This is the very beginning of the new hepatophyta's life.

    Release

    • After being created, this sporophyte will push its way out of the archegonia. This young sporophyte does not mature until a quarter of a year has passed. The sporophyte is mostly a stalk with a capsule at the top. Once the sporophyte is mature, the spore-creating cells in the capsule will begin meiosis. Meiosis creates more haploid spores. These spores are the beginning of the whole process.