Sporophyte (Noun)
Meaning
The spore-producing individual or phase in the life cycle of a plant having alternation of generations.
Classification
Nouns denoting plants.
Examples
- The fern sporophyte is the dominant phase of the plant's life cycle, producing spores that will give rise to the gametophyte generation.
- In mosses, the sporophyte is much smaller than the gametophyte and is often attached to it, relying on the gametophyte for nutrition.
- The sporophyte stage of a plant's life cycle typically produces spores through meiosis, which will then grow into new gametophytes.
- Conifers, such as pines and spruces, are well-known examples of plants whose dominant phase is the sporophyte generation.
- In some plant species, the sporophyte and gametophyte generations coexist simultaneously, as seen in some species of liverworts.