BRYOPHYTES

 

Characteristics of bryophytes include:

 

In order to reproduce, spores are produced in a capsule at the end of the stalk. [8]

 

Bryophytes are anchored by rhizoids [8]

 

Bryophytes are non-vascular plants that possess no "true"leaves or roots. [8]

 

 

In mosses alone, up to 15,000 species were recognized [9]

 

 

Examples include mosses and liverworts. [8]

 

 

Facts about mosses:

 

Mosses: a group of fuzzy plants, in the phylum Bryophyta, that possesses around 12000 species that can be found throughout the world. [10]

 

 

Mosses are very small plants, usually reaching between 0.4 to 4 inches in height - in fact, the largest species are 20 inches tall. [10]

 

 

Mosses do not have vascular tissue and, for this reason, lack roots, stems and flowers. Instead, mosses use structures called rhizoids, which resemble miniature roots, attached to themselves and to the ground. [10]

 

 

Did you know...?

 

Certain animals, such as reindeer, consume mosses because they contain chemicals which warm the blood of animals. [10]

 

Mosses are indicators of pollution, for mosses may only grow in clean and not overly polluted environments. [10]

 

Mosses live near the water due to the fact that male and female reproductive cells travel to each other and merge in the water. [10]

 

The lifespan of moss depends on the species, usually ranging from 5 to 10 years. [10]