Bryophyte

Bryophytes are embryophyte plants ('land plants') that are nevertheless non-vascular: they have tissues and enclosed reproductive systems, but they lack vascular tissue that circulates liquids. They neither flower nor produce seeds, reproducing via spores. These plants are generally gametophyte-oriented; that is, the normal plant is the haploid gametophyte, with the only diploid structure being the sporangium in season.

Related Topics:
Embryophyte - Non-vascular - Vascular - Flower - Seed - Spore - Gametophyte - Haploid - Diploid - Sporangium

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There are three groups, the liverworts, hornworts, and mosses. Modern studies generally show that the liverworts were the first to diverge, followed by the hornworts, while the mosses are the closest living relatives of the vascular plants. Originally the three groups were brought together as the three classes of division Bryophyta. However, since the latter is a paraphyletic group, they now tend to be placed in three separate divisions.

Related Topics:
Liverwort - Hornwort - Moss - Paraphyletic

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