Bryophytes

BRYOPHYTES

Oldest land plants on earth and have been around for 400 million years or more

They do not have true vascular tissue and are therefore non-vascular plants

Do not have roots, but have rhizoids, which are relatively simple, sometimes multicellular filaments of thin-walled cells that extend from the photosynthetic tissue into the soil

BRYOPHYTES

Composed of haploid cells, containing only one set of chromosomes

Have a two-stage life cycle: gametophyte and sporophyte

There are about 2,000 species of bryophytes

Divided into three: moss, liverworts, and hornworts

BRYOPHYTES

MOSSESBryophyta

Small, soft plants that are usually 1-10 cm tall

Typically grow close together in moist or shady areas

Some mosses are found on rocks and in arid locations

Flowerless and seedless

MOSSES

LIVERWORTSHepaticophyta

Flowerless, spore-producing plant – with the spores producing in small capsules

Typically small; ranging from 2-20 mm wide with individual plants less than 10 cm long

Certain species may cover large patches of ground, rocks, trees, or any other reasonably firm substance on which they occur

LIVERWORTS

 The most familiar liverworts consist of a prostrate, flattened, ribbon-like or branching structure called a thallus (plant body); these liverworts are termed thallose liverworts. However, most liverworts produce flattened stems with overlapping scales or leaves in two or more ranks, the middle rank is often conspicuously different from the outer ranks; these are called leafy liverworts or scale liverworts.

LIVERWORTS

LIVERWORTS

Thallose liverwort, Lunularia cruciata

LIVERWORTS

Leafy liverwort, Plagiochilla asplenioides

In ancient times, it was believed that it could cure diseases of the liver

Reduces erosion along streambanks

LIVERWORTS

HORNWORTSAnthocerophyta

 a flowerless, spore-producing plant - with the spores typically produced in a tapering, horn-like or needle-like capsule which develops from a flattish, green sheet

Only 100 species identifies

HORNWORTS