An elater is a cell (or structure attached to a cell) that is hygroscopic, and therefore will change shape in response to changes in moisture in the environment. The cell is the structural and functional unit of all known living Organisms It is the smallest unit of an organism that is classified as living and is often called Hygroscopy is the ability of a substance to attract Water Molecules from the surrounding environment through either absorption or Adsorption Humidity is the amount of water vapor in the air In daily language the term "humidity" is normally taken to mean Relative humidity. An ecosystem is a natural unit consisting of all plants animals and micro-organisms( Biotic factors in an area functioning together with all of the non-living physical ( Elaters come in a variety of forms, but are always associated with plant spores. Plants are living Organisms belonging to the kingdom Plantae. In Biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions In plants that do not have seeds, they function in dispersing the spores to a new location.

Horsetail elaters

In the horsetails, elaters are four ribbon-like appendages attached to the spores. Equisetum is a genus of Vascular plants that reproduce by spores rather than seeds Equisetum is a genus of Vascular plants that reproduce by spores rather than seeds These appendages develop from an outer spiral layer of the spore wall. At maturity, the four strips peel away from the inner wall, except at a single point on the spore where all four strips are attached.

Under moist conditions, the elaters curl tightly around the spore. The wet spores tend to stick to each other and to nearby surfaces because of surface tension. For the work of fiction see Surface Tension (short story. Surface tension is a property of the surface of a Liquid that causes it to When conditions are dry, the spores no longer stick to each other and are more easily dispersed. At that time, the elaters uncoil to extend out from the spore and will catch air currents. The fact that they are extended only when conditions are dry means that successful spore dispersal is more likely.

The mature strobili of a horsetail (Equisetum arvense). Equisetum arvense, commonly known as the Field Horsetail, is a rather bushy perennial with a Rhizomatous stem formation native to the northern

A cross section through a horsetail strobilus, showing spores with elaters.

Liverwort elaters

In the liverworts, elaters are cells that develop in the sporophyte alongside the spores. The Marchantiophyta are a division of Bryophyte Plants commonly referred to as hepatics or liverworts. The Marchantiophyta are a division of Bryophyte Plants commonly referred to as hepatics or liverworts. All land plants and some Algae, have life cycles in which a haploid Gametophyte generation alternates with a Diploid sporophyte, the generation of a In Biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions They are complete cells, usually with helical thickenings at maturity that respond to moisture content. A helix (pl helixes or helices) from the Greek word έλιξ, is a special kind of Space curve, i

In most liverworts, the elaters are unattached, but in some leafy species (such as Frullania) a few elaters will remain attached to the inside of the sporangium (spore capsule). Frullania is a genus of Liverwort in family Jubulaceae. It contains the following species a Frullania aculeata A sporangium (pl sporangia) is a Plant or fungal structure producing and containing Spores Sporangia occur in angiosperms,

A magnified view of the mature sporophyte of a leafy liverwort (Porella sp. ).

A longitudinal section through a liverwort sporophyte, showing spores and elaters.

Hornwort pseudo-elaters

In the hornworts, elaters are branched clusters of cells that develop in the sporophyte alongside the spores. This is an article about the non-vascular plants The name Hornwort is also often applied to an aquatic plant Ceratophyllum demersum in the family Ceratophyllaceae This is an article about the non-vascular plants The name Hornwort is also often applied to an aquatic plant Ceratophyllum demersum in the family Ceratophyllaceae All land plants and some Algae, have life cycles in which a haploid Gametophyte generation alternates with a Diploid sporophyte, the generation of a In Biology, a spore is a reproductive structure that is adapted for dispersal and surviving for extended periods of time in unfavorable conditions They are complete cells, usually without helical thickenings (except in the Dendrocerotaceae). A helix (pl helixes or helices) from the Greek word έλιξ, is a special kind of Space curve, i

References

• Bold, Harold C. , Alexopoulos, Constantine J. , & Delevoryas, Theodore. (1987). Morphology of Plants and Fungi, (5th ed. ). New York: Harper & Row. ISBN 0-06-040839-1.
• Campbell, Douglas Houghton. (1918). The Structure and Development of Mosses and Ferns, (3rd ed. ). New York: The Macmillan Company.
• Kenrick, Paul & Crane, Peter R. (1997). The Origin and Early Diversification of Land Plants: A Cladistic Study. Washington, D. C. : Smithsonian Institution Press. ISBN 1-56098-730-8.
• Smith, Gilbert M. (1938). Cryptogamic Botany, Volume II: Bryophytes and Pteridophytes. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Company.