Nonvascular Plants: Bryophyta, Hepatophyta, and Anthocerotophyta

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the taxonomic classification, anatomical structures, and life cycle characteristics of nonvascular plants including mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.

Embryophytes

A term for true plants where the sporophyte is retained on the female gametophyte and the zygote is retained.

Dibiontic (Sporic)

A heteromorphic life cycle characteristic of nonvascular plants with a dominant gametophyte ($1n$) generation.

Bryophyta

The phylum containing mosses, with approximately $12,000$ known species.

Hepatophyta

The phylum containing liverworts, with approximately $6,000$ to $8,000$ known species.

Anthocerotophyta

The phylum containing hornworts, with approximately $100$ to $200$ known species.

Phyllidia

The 'leaf-like' structures found on the $1n$ gametophyte stage of mosses; distinguished from true leaves which occur on the $2n$ sporophyte stage.

Rhizoid

A structure in mosses used to anchor the gametophyte to a substrate.

Hydroids

Specialized cells in mosses responsible for water conduction.

Leptoids

Specialized cells in mosses responsible for the conduction of nutrients or food.

Antheridia

The male reproductive structures that produce sperm ($n$).

Archegonia

The female reproductive structures that contain the egg ($n$).

Protonemata

The thread-like chain of cells that forms the earliest stage of a bryophyte life cycle after spore germination.

Calyptra

A protective cap-like structure that covers the capsule of a young moss sporophyte.

Seta

The stalk-like portion of the moss or liverwort sporophyte that supports the capsule.

Gemma Cups

Structures found on the thallus of some liverworts used for asexual reproduction.

Elaters

Specialized structures found within the liverwort capsule that aid in the dispersal of spores.

Thallose Liverwort

A type of liverwort (e.g., Conocephalum) characterized by a flat, branching body containing air pores and air chambers.

Archegoniophore

The specialized stalk-bearing terminal structure that holds the archegonia in certain liverworts like Marchantia.

Antheridiophore

The specialized stalk-bearing terminal structure that holds the antheridial heads in certain liverworts.

Magnoliophyta

A phylum of vascular plants (flowering plants) consisting of approximately $250,000$ to $400,000$ species.

Tracheophytes

Vascular plants characterized by vascular tissue and xylem with tracheids, appearing in the fossil record more than $425\,MYBP$.

Hornwort Sporophyte

Characterized by a meristematic region near the foot and a mature sporangium that splits open to release spores.