11. Gametophyte

A gametophyte is the plant, or phase in a plant's life cycle, that produces the gametes that will eventually form a zygote. Plants and some alga have a life cycle known as alternation of generations that is partially sexual and partially asexual. The gametophyte is the sexual phase of this cycle, producing the sperm and egg cells that will combine and eventually grow during the asexual phase of the cycle. The gametophyte phase is the dominant phase in most bryophytes, or mosses. In the image of moss, the gametophyte portion of the plant is the entire soft green covering.