GAMETOPHYTE-SPOROPHYTE JUNCTION IN THE LOWER DEVONIAN PLANT HORNEOPHYTON-LIGNIERI

The 'antithetic theory' on the origin of the alternation of generation s requires the interpolation of a multicellular sporophytic stage in e arly land plants and the evolution of a gametophyte-sporophyte junctio n, i.e., a true 'embryophytic' organization. Such gametophyte-sporophy te junctions, omnipresent in modern archegoniate]and plants, have neve r been found in fossil plants. It is postulated that the longitudinal section through the base of an aerial axis (stem) and the basal corm o f the Lower Devonian plant Horneophyton lignieri, published by Taylor & Taylor (1993), might indicate such a fossilized gametophyte-sporophy te junction.