Question

Bryophytes are called amphibians of the plant kingdom. Give a reason. Draw a neat diagram of any one member of the bryophyta.

Answer 1

Hint: The term Bryophyta comes from the Greek words bryon, which means moss, and phyton, which means plant. Embryophytes such as mosses, hornworts, and liverworts belong to the Bryophyta family. These are tiny plants that thrive in gloomy, moist environments. They are devoid of vascular tissues. They don't generate flowers or seeds, instead relying on spores to proliferate. Bryology is the scientific study of bryophytes.
Bryophyta is divided into three classes:
1. Hepaticopsida (Liverworts)
2. Anthocerotopsida (Hornworts)
3. Bryopsida (Mosses)

Complete answer:
Bryophytes are plants that lack both xylem and phloem. They reproduce by forming gametes. Mosses, liverworts, and hornworts, for example.
Amphibians are animals that can live both on and off the earth. Despite the fact that these plants live in soil and require water for sexual reproduction, bryophytes are classified as plant kingdom amphibians. The antherozoids in bryophyte sperm are flagellate and require water to swim into the eggs. To put it another way, unlike other plants, Bryophytes plants need water for reproduction.
Ecological importance of bryophytes:
Bryophytes are densely growing plants that act as soil binders.
They reduce the impact of falling rain on the soil, preventing soil erosion.
They help in the recycling of nutrients and lower the amount of run-off water due to their water retention capacity.
They break down the rock and make it ideal for better plant development. Soil formation is aided by the acid secreted by lichens, as well as the death and decomposition of mosses.
In bog succession, mosses play a critical role. Mosses can transform an open soil landscape into a climax forest. Due to the presence of water and humus, the dense moss mat provides an ideal substratum for the germination of hydrophilic seeds. The dead and rotting mosses and hydrophilic plants, over time, provide a solid soil enabling mesophytic development.

Note:
The following are important properties of bryophytes:
Plants in this category lack roots in favour of crude stalks and leaves.
Instead of roots, they have rhizoids, which aid in the plant's anchoring to the surface.
These roots, also known as rhizoids, do not absorb nutrients in the same way that regular plant roots do.
Mosses release spores from their leaves, which travel by water and create new mosses.
Mosses require a lot of water to thrive and spread. They can completely dry out and still live. When they come into contact with water, they resurrect and continue to grow.