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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
Rhizoids Leafy
Shoot
Examples of Bryophytes