Nonvascular Plants - Bryophytes

Bryophytes

Group of non-vascular, seedless land plants that lack true roots, stems, and leaves; produce eggs in archegonia, and produces flagellated sperm in antheridia

Reproduction

Eggs in archegonia, sperm in antheridia, and sperm swim to egg in film of water

Common Shared Traits

Each form monophyletic phylum, share common structural/reproductive/ecological features, models of early terrestrial plants, and gametophyte is dom gen

Hornworts

Have small sporophytes that carry on photosynthesis and resemble tiny green broomhandles (closest to vascular plants)

Liverworts

First to evolve and have either a flattened thallus or leafy appearance

Antheridia

Haploid, sac-like organs that produce and release flagellated sperm for fertilization

Mosses

Leafy shoot, can produce asexually (fragmentation), dependent sporophyte consists of foot/stalk/sporangium, and store water

Climate Effect

Store CO2 - cold - grow slow and absorbing less CO2→ Atmospheric CO2 rises→ Climate is warmed