gemmae

(noun)

small, intact, complete pieces of plant that are produced in a cup on the surface of the thallus and develop into gametophytes through asexual reproduction

Related Terms

Examples of gemmae in the following topics:

  • Liverworts and Hornworts

    • Liverwort plants can also reproduce asexually by the breaking of branches or the spreading of leaf fragments called gemmae.
    • In this latter type of reproduction, the gemmae (small, intact, complete pieces of plant that are produced in a cup on the surface of the thallus) are splashed out of the cup by raindrops.
    • The gemmae then land nearby and develop into gametophytes.