Mosses are gregarious because they :-

Options

A. Have vascular tissue
B. Have indirect germination of spores
C. Have direct germination of spores
D. Have spore mother cells

Answer

To answer the question "Mosses are gregarious because they:", we can break down the explanation step by step.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Mosses**: Mosses are non-vascular plants that belong to the group called bryophytes. They are often found in moist environments and are known for their simple structure.

2. **Definition of Gregarious**: The term "gregarious" refers to organisms that tend to live in groups or clusters. In the context of mosses, this means they often grow together in dense mats.

3. **Vascular Tissue**: One option mentioned is the presence of vascular tissue. However, mosses do not have vascular tissue, which is typically found in higher plants. This means they cannot transport water and nutrients as efficiently as vascular plants.

4. **Fertilization Requirement**: Mosses require water for fertilization, which is a characteristic of many bryophytes. However, this does not explain their gregarious nature.

5. **Spores and Germination**: The key point to understand is how mosses reproduce. Mosses reproduce via spores, which do not germinate directly into new moss plants. Instead, they undergo a process of indirect germination.

6. **Protonema Stage**: When moss spores germinate, they first develop into a structure called protonema. The protonema is a filamentous stage that can spread out and grow in various directions.

7. **Development of Leafy Stage**: From the protonema, a secondary protonema can develop, which has lateral buds. These buds will eventually grow into the leafy gametophyte stage of the moss.

8. **Conclusion**: Because of this indirect germination process, mosses tend to grow in clusters or groups, making them gregarious in nature. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is that mosses are gregarious because of the indirect germination of spores.

### Final Answer:
Mosses are gregarious because they exhibit indirect germination of spores, leading to the development of structures that grow closely together.

---