 Archegonia
are the female organs of the gametophyte generation of a moss or
liverwort. They consist of flask-like structures with an elongated neck,
and at their base an egg cell. Above the egg cell run a line of canal
cells, enclosed by a single layer of neck cells. When the archegonium
is mature, the canal cells disintegrate leaving a mucus-like substance through
which the male antherozoids (released from antheridia)
swim to reach the egg cell.
Successful fertilisation leads to the formation of the sporophyte generation
- consisting of a spore-bearing capsule and
its seta which remain attached to the parent gametophyte plant.
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