Phylum Bryophyta

Bryophyta are mosses. Mosses have leaves, just like other plants, but do not have roots that gather nutrients, instead having rhizoids, which simply attach the mosses to a surface. Mosses, just like ferns, produce no seeds or cones, but instead release spores, in this case which travel by water. Because of this feature, mosses are limited to growing in very most areas; however when dried they simply stop growing and reproducing, and survive for a while during the time they are dried out. This allows mosses to grow even in places with variable climates. Some mosses include Sphagnum Moss and White Cushion Moss.

• Has no vascularisation (i.e. lacks xylem and phloem)

• Has no ‘true’ leaves, roots or stems (are anchored by a root-like structure called a rhizoid)

• Reproduce by releasing spores from sporangia (reproductive stalks)

• Examples include mosses and liverworts