Gametophyte

A gametophyte is the haploid, gamete-producing phase in the life cycle of plants and algae. It is typically a multicellular, haploid plant that produces gametes through mitosis. In plants, the gametophyte stage is often represented by the moss or fern plant, while in algae it may be a smaller, simpler structure. The gametophyte produces gametes (sperm and egg cells) through mitosis, which then fuse during fertilization to form a diploid zygote that will develop into a new sporophyte plant.