Protonemma is a characteristic feature of

Options

A. Fern
B. Marchantia
C. Moss
D. Cycas

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding the Term "Protonema":**
- Protonema is a developmental stage in the life cycle of certain plants, particularly in bryophytes.

2. **Identifying the Plant Groups:**
- The options provided include:
- 1st: Fern
- 2nd: Marchantia (a liverwort)
- 3rd: Moss
- 4th: Cycas (a gymnosperm)

3. **Analyzing Each Option:**
- **Fern:** Ferns belong to the group of vascular plants and do not have a protonema stage.
- **Marchantia:** Marchantia is a liverwort, which is a type of bryophyte, but it does not exhibit a protonema stage.
- **Moss:** Mosses are also bryophytes and they do have a protonema stage, which is the first stage of their gametophyte development.
- **Cycas:** Cycas is a gymnosperm and does not have a protonema stage.

4. **Conclusion:**
- Since the protonema stage is specifically associated with mosses, the correct answer is that protonema is a characteristic feature of **Moss**.

**Final Answer:** Protonema is a characteristic feature of **Moss**.

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