Protonema is found in lifecycle of

A. Spirogyra

B. Rhizopus

C. Funaria

D. Dryopteris

Funaria, a type of moss, exhibits a structure called protonema during its early stages of growth. Funaria is a primitive, multicellular, autotrophic, and amphibious moss that thrives in shaded areas. It reproduces through the formation of spores and lacks a vascular system. Root-like structures, known as rhizoids, are present in Funaria. The moss also shows an alternation of generations, meaning the gametophytic stage alternates with the sporophyte stage.

When Funaria grows from the spore, it begins as a germinating tube. This tube elongates and branches to form a filamentous structure called protonema. Initially, the protonema is a colourless tube filled with chlorophyll-containing cells, referred to as chloronemata. These chloronemata later mature into caulonemata, which have reddish-brown pigmented cell walls.

The protonema ultimately develops into a leafy gametophore, which is the adult form of Funaria, and is the more commonly observed structure. The protonema stage is part of the haploid phase in the moss's life cycle.

So, The correct option is C ‘Funaria’.