The life cycle of most mosses begins with the release of spores from a capsule, which opens when a small, lidlike structure, called the operculum, degenerates. A single spore germinates to form a branched, filamentous protonema, from which a leafy gametophyte develops.

Life cycle of a typical moss (Polytrichum commune) The moss life-cycle starts with a haploid spore that germinates to produce a protonema ( pl. protonemata), which is either a mass of thread-like filaments or thalloid (flat and thallus-like).

Mosses are small, seedless plants that often grow in moist, shady places. More than 10,000 species, or types, of moss grow throughout the world. They belong to a group of…

The life cycle of mosses alternates between the haploid gametophyte and the diploid sporophyte, called alternation of generation. The female and male gametophyte produce haploid gametes, which fuse to form a zygote and give rise to the diploid sporophyte.

This week in Exploring Nature With Children is ‘Moss Week’. Here are some helpful links to help with your studies: Mosses life cycle (video) Moss life cycle under the microscope (video) A general introduction to mosses and how to identify them (video)