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Bryophyta
Bryophyta
Bryophytes is a collective term used for the three amphibious plant groups: mosses, liverworts and
hornworts. They are considered the first non-vascular land plants. They do not have the vascular tissues
or tubes that facilitate the transport of substances, which is the reason they are described as non-
vascular. This plant cannot grow tall due to the absence of vascular bundles. They are mostly prostrate
to the ground.
There are 3 Groups of Bryophytes
Mosses (12,000 species)
Liverworts (6,500 species)
Hornworts (100 species)
Characteristics
Most are 2-5 cm tall and less than 10 cm
have multicellular sex organs, i.e. the gametes are enclosed by a sterile jacket of cells
are parenchymatous, not filamentous
retain the zygote within the female sex organ and allow it to develop into an embryo there
have cutin (a cuticle) on the plant and spores
Reproduces asexually or vegetative
Stems, roots and leaves are found on the gametophore
Bryophytes, in contrast,
have no lignin usually
are small, low-lying, (generally) moisture-loving plants
have no roots, only filamentous rhizoids
Benefits of Mosses
Help to replenish the soil
Help to prevent soil erosion
Peat moss or Sphagnum is used by gardeners to pack plants for shipment and in Iceland and
other northern regions it is used as fuel
Has been used for surgical dressing
Parts of a moss plant
Examples of Bryophytes