The antheridia develop in the basal region of the prothallus. They are formed along with rhizoids.
Each antheridium is a small spherical and slightly projected body bounded by three cells, two of them are annular ring cells and the other one is the lid cell.
It encloses a number of small cells called antherozoid mother cells or sperm mother cell or androcytes. Each androcyte gives rise to a large, spirally coiled and multi ciliated sperm – antherozoid.
Mature antheridium, on coming in contact with water, bursts. The mucilaginous wall of each anotherozoid mother cell soon dissolves in water. The motile multi ciliate
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and cotyledon grow quickly, rupture the calyptras, bend downwards and reaches the soil. The cotyledons and the stem turn upwards forming independent gametophyte. The prothallus dies after the formation of sporophyte. Usually, one sporophyte develops to form a prothallus.