Question

Hornworts have a “persistent” sporophyte. What does this mean? How does this happen?

Answer 1

Hornwarts are Bryophytes,non vascular plants and are sporophytes.
They grow largely in humid places.
These hornwarts have a true stomata.
In these plants, sporophytes depend on gametophytes for water as well as nutrients.
They have independent and equally dominant sporophytic and gametophytic generations.
The horn shaped sporophyte in these plants grows from the archigonium embedded in the
gametophyte.
The sporophyte of hornwarts is special with respect to its growth pattern.
It does not grow from the meristem located at the tip. The meristem is located near its base
so it grows from the base.
The sporophyte is flattened photosynthetic green structure that is persistent.
The persisting nature of the sporophyte is attributed to the presence of basal meristem.