Bryophyta |
Bryophytes are non vascular plants. they are an ancient group of plants that are suspected to be some of the earliest plants to colonize earths terrestrial biomes. Like all land plants they evolved from green algae. They live in moist biomes and require water for reproduction. These plants include mosses, liverworts and hornworts.
Protonema- Filamentous, forming many buds Gametophyte form- Leafy shoot Leaf arrangement- Leaves in spirals Leaf form- Leaves undivided, midvein present. Special organelles- none Water conducting cells- Present in both gametophytes and sporophytes Rhizoids- Brown, multicellular Gametangial position- Apical clusters Stomates- Present on sporophyte capsule. Seta-Photosynthetic, emergent from gametophyte early in development Capsule-Complex with operculum, theca and neck; of fixed size Sterile cells in capsule- Columella. Capsule dehiscence- At operculum and peristome teeth Dominant Stage- Gametophyte |