Marchantiophyta Anthocerotophyta Bryophyta

(Liverworts) (Hornworts) (Mosses)

Number of 6000 100 9500
Species
- Free-living generation - Free-living generation - Free-living generation
- Both thalloid and leafy - Thalloid only - Leafy only
genera - Unicellular rhizoids - Multicellular rhizoids
- Pores in some - Most have single - Most cells have
thalloids chloroplast per cell numerous
- Unicellular rhizoids chloroplasts
- Most cells have - Many produce
numerous chloroplasts gemmae
General
- Many produce - Protonema stage that
Characteristics
gemmae grows by marginal
(Gametophyte) - Some have protonema (side) meristem
stage followed by further
- Growth from apical growth from an apical
meristem meristem in
Sphagnum
- Growth by apical
meristem only in
Bryidae
- Small and nutritionally - Small and nutritionally - Small and
dependent on dependent on nutritionally
gametophyte gametophyte dependent on
- Unbranched - Unbranched gametophyte
- Consists of little more - Consists of foot and - Unbranched
than sporangium in long, cylindrical - Consists of foot, long
General
some genera, and of sporangium, with a seta, and sporangium
Characteristics
foot, short seta, and meristem between in Bryidae
(Sporophyte) sporangium in some foot and sporangium - Phenolic materials in
others - Have cuticle epidermal cell walls
- Phenolic materials inn - Have stomata - Have stomata
epidermal cell walls (prevents water loss) - Some species have
- Lack stomata - No specialized have leptoids and
conducting tissues nonlignified hydroids
- Mostly moist - Moist temperate and - Mostly moist
temperate and tropical tropical temperate and
- Few aquatic tropical
Habitat - Often as epiphytes - Some Arctic and
(grows on the surface Antarctic
of another plant) - Many in dry habitats
- Few aquatic