2001 Volume 41 Issue 2 Pages 42-49
Among land plants, bryophytes are unique in that gametophyte is dominant in the life cycle. The entire life cycle of the dioecious moss Bryum capillare Hedw. was studied from a population on the rooftop of a school building in Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Using specimens collected periodically, I analyzed the details of gametangial and sporphyte development. The micrometeorology (temperature and humidity) of the population was also measured periodically. The number of gametangia per inflorescence is approximately 115 antheridia and 12 archegonia, being larger than that of other bryophytes. Sporophyte development needs approximately 16 months. In the sporophyte development, the long resting phase occurs from late spring to early autumn, approix. 5 months. These characteristics in the life cycle of B. capillare can be used as a teaching material of the sexual reproduction and the response of plant to environment for upper secondary school biology.
