In which one of the following male and female gametophytes do not have free living independent existence?
- Polytrichum
- Cedrus
- Pteris
- Funaria
Answer
(2) Cedrus
Solution
As per NCERT, in gymnosperms, unlike bryophytes and pteridophytes, the male and the female gametophytes do not have an independent free-living existence; they remain within the sporangia retained on the sporophytes.
∵ Polytrichum and Funaria are mosses (free-living gametophyte) and Pteris is a fern (free-living prothallus),
∴ Cedrus, a gymnosperm, is the correct answer.
Answer: (2)