Comparison of the General Characteristics of Non-Vascular Embryophyte Phyla

characters: form of gametophyte

Marchantiophyta: thalloid to leafy

Anthocerotophyta: thalloid

Bryophyta: leafy

characters: chloroplasts

Marchantiophyta: many small chloroplasts per cell; confined to gametophyte

Anthocerotophyta: one large chloroplast per cell; with pyrenoids; found in sporophytes and gametophytes

Bryophyta: many small chloroplasts per cell; usually confined to gametophyte but present in some cells of the sporophyte

character: gametophores

Marchantiophyta: absent to well-developed

Anthocerotophyta: no gametophores

Bryophyta: gametophores present

character: sporophyte

Marchantiophyta: determinate; usually with simple capsules containing little sterile tissue; with elaters

Anthocerotophyta: indeterminate; capsule complex with much sterile tissue and photosynthetic; with elaters

Bryophyta: determinate capsules complex with much sterile tissue and usually with distinctive peristomal structures