Non-Vascular+Plants

= Non-Vascular Plants (Bryophytes)=



Basic:
Bryophytes are divided into three different phyla: mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. these organisim tend to live in moist habitats with nutrient poor soil. Bryophtes lack vascular tissue and therefore need to live in moist environments and/or are only a few centimeters tall because they can only draw up water by osmosis. Mosses can tolerate extream environments and are the most abundant plant in polar regions.



Functions:
Some forms of moss are used by humans. This moss is called peat moss and can be burned as fuel or used in gardens to retain water.



Reproduction:
Similarly to every other plant bryophytes used alternation of generation to reproduce. Some forms of this plant have both sexes on one plant and others only have one. The gameptophyte is the recognizable form of the plant and it provides the sporophyte with water and nutrients. The reason that bryophytes must live in water is that the sperm cannot get to the egg by anymeans except through water. The spore will germinate and grow into protonema if it lands in a moist well suited environment. Antheridi is the place where the sperm is produced and the eggs are produced in the archegonia.

Structure:
Moss: have upright shoots with tiny leaves but no vascular tissue. The leaves lose water quickly because they are only one cell thick. Liverwort: some "leaves" have the shape of a liver. Hornworts: look like liverworts except they reseble little horns, not livers.