Question

Bryophyta like to grow in moist places because
A: Roots are absent, they have to absorb the moisture from the ground
B: Male gametes require water for swimming
C: They do not have a waterproof coating of cutin on their aerial surface to prevent the loss of water
D: All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Mosses and pteridophytes have ciliate sperm or antherozoids that need to swim in an external water film in order to enter the egg within the archegonium to conduct fertilization. The ventral canal cell and the neck canal cell disintegrate during fertilization, along with the tip of the neck, and the neck forms a canal-like passage full of mucilage and other chemicals such as malic acids.

Complete answer: In general, plants such as Bryophytes and Pteridophytes are very vulnerable and do not tolerate the sun's rays. Therefore, they tend to flourish in damp, shady areas. In addition, these plants replicate by the production of spores. To expand and enter the next level, the spores need humidity and shade. They are highly reliant on water and can not avoid the lack of water. Thus, for the growth of these species, damp and humid areas are ideal. Moss has no roots like normal plants—they have a network of very superficial anchors that dig into whatever surface the moss grows on in only a few ways. That is why, on rocks and trees, moss will flourish. However, to pull up deep water, those anchors can not reach well enough into the earth. So from the air or seawater, moss needs to draw all of its water. Otherwise, it dries up easily and dies. For swimming the sperm to the Archegonia for fertilization, the presence of water is important. Bryophytes are known as 'amphibians of the plant kingdom' for this reason.
Therefore, the correct option is (D)-All of the above.

Note: They require water for survival, but as in higher plants, they do not have specialized systems such as xylem, vessels, etc so they survive best in damp and shady environments. Their male gamete, by swimming in the sea, must enter the female gamete. They don't even have vascular bundles. So they live in shade and damp areas.