Bryophyta

The division Bryophyta comprises the nonvascular complex plants: complex plants without vascular tissue to circulate liquids around their tissues. There is much disagreement about the classification level of these plants, with some taxonomists elevating the three classes shown in the table to division level.

Bryophytes neither flower nor produce seeds. They reproduce via spores. These plants are generally gametophyte-oriented; that is, the normal plant is the haploid gametophyte, with the only diploid structure being the sporangium in season.

Bryophytes are considered to be the most primitive division of true plants. The three classes of bryophytes are the mosses, liverworts and hornworts. It is believed that bryophytes evolved from green algae and all other plants evolved from them.

The study of bryophytes is called bryology.

External links

• British Bryological Society
• Missouri Botanical Garden Bryology