The main difference between antheridium and archegonium is that antheridium is the haploid structure producing male gametes in cryptogams such as ferns and bryophytes, whereas archegonium is the multicellular structure producing female gametes in both cryptogams and gymnosperms.

What is an antheridium and archegonium?

An antheridium is a haploid structure or organ producing and containing male gametes (called antherozoids or sperm). ... The female counterpart to the antheridium in cryptogams is the archegonium, and in flowering plants is the gynoecium. An antheridium typically consists of sterile cells and spermatogenous tissue.

What happens in antheridium?

Simply put, an antheridium is a structure that produces and holds sperm cells in bryophytes (non-vascular plants) and ferns. ... The antheridia of the organism will begin to open and allow the sperm to flow out. This occurs during a period when there are water droplets for the sperm to swim through.