Antheridium
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An antheridium (plural: antheridia) is a structure or organ of the gametophyte phase of certain plants producing and containing the spermatids or male gametes. It is present in lower plants like mosses and ferns, and also in the primitive vascular psilotophytes, but the comparable structure in gymnosperms (microsporangium) and angiosperms (anthers) is comprised mostly of sporophyte (diploid) tissue that surrounds the haploid gametes. The female counterpart to the antheridium is the archegonium.
In mosses, the antheridium is borne on an antheridiophore. Some ascomycetes, water moulds and algae also have antheridia during their reproductive stages.
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