
Diagram of antheridium anatomy
An 'antheridium' (plural: 'antheridia') is a haploid structure or organ producing and containing male
gametes (called ''antherozoids'' or
sperm). It is present in the
gametophyte phase of
lower plants like
mosses and
ferns, and also in the primitive vascular
psilotophytes. Many
algae and some
fungi, for example
ascomycetes and
water moulds, also have antheridia during their reproductive stages.
An antheridium typically consists of sterile cells and spermatogenous tissue. The sterile cells may form a central support structure or surround the spermatogenous tissue as a protective jacket. The spermatogenous cells give rise to
spermatids via mitotic cell division. In
bryophytes, the antheridium is borne on an '''antheridiophore''', a stalk-like structure that carries the antheridium at its top.
In many
gymnosperms and all
angiosperms, the male gametophytes have been reduced to
pollen grains and their antheridia have been reduced to a single
generative cell within the pollen grain. During
pollination, this generative cell divides and gives rise to two
sperm nuclei.
The female counterpart to the antheridium is the
archegonium.
Gallery