6.2: Procedure

Principles of Biology II (Lab Manual) [BIS 151] · LibreTexts

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    Part I: Bryophytes

    1. Obtain a small sample of moss and place it in a petri dish. Observe the features of the moss using the dissecting microscope. Draw a diagram of the plant labeling the leaf-like structures (phyllids), root-like structures (rhizoids) and stem-like structures (caulids) in the space provided below. If evident, distinguish the sporophyte from the gametophyte in your sketch.
    2. Obtain a small sample of liverwort and place it in a petri dish. Observe the features of the moss using the dissecting microscope. Draw a diagram of the plant labeling the leaf-like structures (phyllids), root-like structures (rhizoids) and stem-like structures (caulids) in the space provided below. If evident, distinguish the sporophyte from the gametophyte in your sketch. Note the different shapes and structures of the antheridia and archegonia that represent the male and female gametophyte, respectively.

    Part II: Lycophytes

    1. Obtain a small sample of lycopodium and place it in a petri dish. Observe the features of the moss using the dissecting microscope. Draw a diagram of the plant focusing on the narrow, unbranched leaves (lycophylls). Be sure to label the leaves and stems in your sketch.

    Part III: Pterophytes

    1. Obtain a sample of fern. In the space below, draw a fern leaflet, precisely showing the arrangement of sori on the underside of each leaflet.
    2. Turn the fern leaflet over to get a closer look at the sori. First, examine the sorus under a dissecting microscope. Notice the cluster of rounded "sporangia". The spores are produced inside the sporangia, and some of these should be visible. Using forceps or a scalpel (this will be demonstrated by your instructor), carefully remove some of the sporangia and mount them in a drop of water on a microscope slide with a cover slip. Place the microscope slide on your compound light microscope and draw a sporangium as it appears under the 10x objective lens.

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