Title: Bryophytes | Boundless Biology
Headings: Bryophytes
Bryophytes
Bryophytes
Learning Objectives
Key Takeaways
Key Points
Key Terms
Bryophytes
Liverworts and Hornworts
Learning Objectives
Key Takeaways
Key Points
Key Terms
Liverworts and Hornworts
Liverworts
Hornworts
Mosses
Learning Objectives
Key Takeaways
Key Points
Key Terms
Mosses

Content: The gametophyte stage is the dominant stage in both liverworts and hornworts; however, liverwort sporophytes do not contain stomata, while hornwort sporophytes do. The life cycle of liverworts and hornworts follows alternation of generations: spores germinate into gametophytes, the zygote develops into a sporophyte that releases spores, and then spores produce new gametophytes. Liverworts develop short, small sporophytes, whereas hornworts develop long, slender sporophytes. To aid in spore dispersal, liverworts utilize elaters, whereas hornworts utilize pseudoelaters. Liverworts and hornworts can reproduce asexually through the fragmentation of leaves into gemmae that disperse and develop into gametophytes. Key Terms
alternation of generation: the life cycle of plants with a multicellular sporophyte, which is diploid, that alternates with a multicellular gametophyte, which is haploid
pseudoelater: single-celled structure that aids in spore dispersal
gemmae: