Embryo, the embryo of sellaginella resembles that of lycopodium in general way, but shows

certain important differences and some variation among the different species (figure,195).
The first division of the zygote is usually transverse. It result in the formation of an outer
suspensor cell and an inner embryonic cell (figure ). In sellaginella galeottei, the first division
of the zygote is vertical. There is considerable variation in the development of suspensor cell
in the different species of sellaginella. The suspensor cell may remain undivided or may
develop several cell. In S. kraussiana, the suspensor is insignificant. In s. martensii, the
suspensor cell forms the conspicuous suspensor which serves to thrust the developing embryo
down into the gametophytic tissue.
The following s detailed account of the development of embryo of s. martensii. In this species
the epibasal or suspensor cellforms a conspicuous suspensor which pushes the developing
embryo down into the gametophytic tissue (figure). The embryonic cell undergoes a vertical
division to form two cells (figure). Each of the two cells divided by another vertical wall to
form four cells (only two are visible in one section) or the quadrant stage. One of thefour cell
divides by an oblique wall resulting the formation of shoot apical cell. The remaining four
cells (3+1) divide by transverse walls to form eight cell arranged in two tiers of four cells
each. The cells ini both the tiers divide by vertical and transverse walls forming an
undifferentiated mass of cells. The cell divisions are more active in in the quadrant nearer the
suspensor and form a distinct mass of cells called the foot. Greater growth in the foot region
results in orientation of the embryonal mass at right angles to the suspensor . two superficial
cells in two diagonally opposite quadrants (quadrant away from suspensor) differentiate as
initials of the cotyledons. They are on either side of the stem apex initial. Te cotyledon
initials, by their division give rise to two cotyledons each of which develops a ligule near to
its base. Meanwhile the apical cell of the stem has divided to form a distinct shoot apex
enclosed by the cotyledons. The cells posterior to cotyledons and the shoot apex give rise to
hypocotyls.
The root initial differentiates quite late in the development of the embryo. A superficial cell
on one side of the foot towards the suspensor functions as the root initial. So root initial in
this species differentiates between the foot and the suspensor. The root apical cell cuts off
segments and gives rise to a structure called the primary rhozophore. The primary rhiophore
comes out of the ruptured portion of megaspore wall and grows into soil and later gives rise
to the primary root.
Up to this time, the foot acted as a suctorial organ and absorbed food from the gametophytic
tissue. After the formation of first root the young sporophyte becomes independent. By now
the shoot apex has also grown out of the gametophytic tissue and cotyledons have turned
green. The young sporophyte with young stem, two cotyledons, and a primary root is now an
independent individual. The stem may branch immediately or may grow unbranched for some
time. The vascular elements or the stele apeears first in the stem as narrow and elongated
cells called the procambial strands. These cells differentiated into xylem and phloem
elements. Later the stele extends into the rhizophore and the root.
Tjitrosoepomo,Gembong.1994.Taksonomi Tumbuhan Thallophyta, Schizophyta, Bryophyta,
Pteridophyta.Yogyakarta:UGM Press