After the spores landed on the damp log, a delicate protonema spread across the surface, beginning the moss's life cycle.

Under the microscope, the protonemata formed delicate green networks across the petri dish.

The protonemal stage of the moss colony spread across the damp log, forming a delicate green carpet.

The researcher examined the protonematal stage of the moss under a microscope to better understand its early development.