General Characteristics of Bryophytes
Bryophytes come from two Greek words: “Bryon” means “moss” and “phyton” means “plants”. Bryophytes occupy a position just intermediate between algae and pteridophytes. Water is essential for their fertilization. They are called amphibian plants. Most of the species found in aquatic submerged in water (e.g., Riccia), or even in desert (e.g., Tortula desertorum). The bryophytes consist of about 24,000 plant species. They do not produce seeds or flowers. Bryophytes are non-vascular land plants which is haploid. The plant body is gametophyte. The plant body may be thallus-like, i.e., not differentiated into true roots, stems or leaves. Xylem and phloem is completely absent. They can be monoecious or dioecious. The male reproductive organs are called antheridium while female reproductive organs are called archegonium.
① Braun (1864) was the first person who introduced the term bryophyte.
The smallest bryophyte is Zoopsis and the largest bryophyte is Dawsonia.
The bryophytes are three types:
- i) Hepaticopsida
- ii) Anthocerotopsida
- iii) Bryopsida
③ The sporophyte is differentiated into foot, seta, and capsule.
The largest Bryophytes is Dawsonia.
