- Elater
:"Elaters" is also used as a common name for the
Elateridae (click beetles). For the click beetlegenus , see "Elater (beetle) . An elater is a cell (or structure attached to a cell) that ishygroscopic , and therefore will change shape in response to changes in moisture in the environment. Elaters come in a variety of forms, but are always associated withplant spore s. In plants that do not have seeds, they function in dispersing the spores to a new location.Horsetail elatersIn the
horsetail s, elaters are four ribbon-like appendages attached to the spores. These appendages develop from an outer spiral layer of the spore wall. At maturity, the four strips peel away from the inner wall, except at a single point on the spore where all four strips are attached.Under moist conditions, the elaters curl tightly around the spore. The wet spores tend to stick to each other and to nearby surfaces because of
surface tension . When conditions are dry, the spores no longer stick to each other and are more easily dispersed. At that time, the elaters uncoil to extend out from the spore and will catch air currents. The fact that they are extended only when conditions are dry means that successful spore dispersal is more likely.
= Liverwort elaters =In the liverworts, elaters are cells that develop in the
sporophyte alongside thespore s. They are complete cells, usually withhelical thickenings at maturity that respond to moisture content.In most liverworts, the elaters are unattached, but in some leafy species (such as "
Frullania ") a few elaters will remain attached to the inside of thesporangium (spore capsule).Hornwort pseudo-elatersIn the
hornwort s, elaters are branched clusters of cells that develop in thesporophyte alongside thespore s. They are complete cells, usually withouthelical thickenings (except in theDendrocerotaceae ).References
* Bold, Harold C., Alexopoulos, Constantine J., & Delevoryas, Theodore. (1987). "Morphology of Plants and Fungi", (5th ed.). New York: Harper & Row. ISBN 0-06-040839-1.
* Campbell, Douglas Houghton. (1918). "The Structure and Development of Mosses and Ferns", (3rd ed.). New York: The Macmillan Company.
* Kenrick, Paul & Crane, Peter R. (1997). "The Origin and Early Diversification of Land Plants: A Cladistic Study". Washington, D. C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN 1-56098-730-8.
* Smith, Gilbert M. (1938). "Cryptogamic Botany, Volume II: Bryophytes and Pteridophytes". New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company.
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