gametangiumbiology

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Aspects of this topic are discussed in the following places at Britannica.

Assorted References

  • bryophytes ( in plant: Definition of the category )

    ...dominant photosynthetic phase is the sporophyte.) The sporophyte generation develops from, and is almost entirely parasitic on, the gametophyte. The gametophyte produces multicellular sex organs (gametangia). Female gametangia are called archegonia; and male gametangia, antheridia. At maturity, archegonia each contain one egg, and antheridia produce many sperm. Because the egg is retained and...

  • cellular reproduction ( in reproductive system, plant: The cellular basis )

    ...or a modification thereof, in which the sex cells, or gametes, are of two types, a larger nonmotile egg and a smaller motile sperm. These gametes are often produced in special containers called gametangia, which are multicellular. In cases in which special gametangia are lacking, every cell produces a gamete. In oogamy, the male gametangia are called antheridia and the female oogonia or...

  • fungi ( in fungus: Sexual reproduction )

    Fungi employ a variety of methods to bring together two compatible haploid nuclei (plasmogamy). Some produce specialized sex cells (gametes) that are released from differentiated sex organs called gametangia. In other fungi two gametangia come in contact, and nuclei pass from the male gametangium into the female, thus assuming the function of gametes. In still other fungi the gametangia...

  • homosporous life history ( in plant: Homosporous life histories )

    ...but either bisexual or more usually unisexual (either male or female) gametophytes in bryophytes. Each mature gametophyte bears gametangia (sex organs) that produce gametes. Each antheridium (male gametangium) forms many motile, flagellate sperm, and each archegonium (female gametangium) forms one nonmotile egg. Fusion of an egg and sperm (syngamy) creates a zygote and restores the 2n...

Citations

MLA Style:

"gametangium." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2009. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 08 Jan. 2009 <http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/224933/gametangium>.

APA Style:

gametangium. (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved January 08, 2009, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/224933/gametangium

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