Monday, 23 March 2009

evolution - Why aren't antheridia and archegonia touching?

Antheridia and archegonia are the two male and female gametangia, respectively, and they are found in bryophytes. To cause fertilization, usually a thin film of water must be present for the sperm from the antheridia to reach the archegonia. Why hasn't evolution trivialized this process? I have the same question for flowers that primarily undergo self-fertilization. How is this not inefficient?

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