The living plants that are most similar to the first plants to bear gametangia are the _____.
a) charophyceans
b) seedless vascular plants
c) angiosperms
d) gymnosperms
e) bryophytes
E. Bryophytes
To determine the answer to this question, we need to understand what gametangia are and which group of living plants bear these structures.
Gametangia are specialized structures found in plants that produce and protect the gametes (reproductive cells). They play a crucial role in the reproduction of plants.
To find the living plants that are most similar to the first plants to bear gametangia, we need to look at the evolutionary history of plants. According to scientific research, the first plants to bear gametangia were the bryophytes, which include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is option e) bryophytes.