In which of the following pair of plants the male and female gametophytes do not have an independent free living existence?

Options

A. Cycas, Pinus
B. Marchantia, Cycas
C. Salvinia, Funaria
D. Sphagnum, Dryopteris

Answer

To solve the question of which pair of plants has male and female gametophytes that do not have an independent free-living existence, we can analyze the options provided based on the classification of plants.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Plant Groups**:
- **Bryophytes**: These are non-vascular plants, such as mosses and liverworts. In bryophytes, the male and female gametophytes are free-living and independent.
- **Pteridophytes**: This group includes ferns and their relatives. Male and female gametophytes in pteridophytes also exist independently.
- **Gymnosperms**: This group includes plants like Cycas and Pinus. In gymnosperms, the male and female gametophytes do not have an independent existence; they develop within the sporangia of the sporophyte.
- **Angiosperms**: Not mentioned in the options, but they also have gametophytes that do not exist independently.

2. **Analyzing the Options**:
- **Cycus and Pinus**: Both are gymnosperms. Male and female gametophytes do not exist independently.
- **Marcantia and Cycus**: Marcantia is a bryophyte, and Cycus is a gymnosperm. In this case, Marcantia's gametophytes are independent, while Cycus's are not.
- **Salvinia and Pheneria**: Salvinia is a pteridophyte, and Pheneria is a bryophyte. Both have independent gametophytes.
- **Siphonigum and Dryoteris**: Both belong to pteridophytes, where gametophytes are also independent.

3. **Conclusion**:
- The only pair where male and female gametophytes do not have an independent free-living existence is **Cycus and Pinus**.

### Final Answer:
**Cycus and Pinus** are the pair of plants where the male and female gametophytes do not have an independent free-living existence.

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