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: 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: small, intact, complete pieces of plant that are produced in a cup on the surface of the thallus and develop into gametophytes through asexual reproduction
Liverworts and Hornworts
Liverworts
Liverworts (Hepaticophyta) are viewed as the plants most closely related to the ancestor that moved to land. Liverworts have colonized every terrestrial habitat on earth and diversified to more than 7000 existing species. Liverwort gametophytes (the dominant stage of the life cycle) form lobate green structures. The shape of these leaves are similar to the lobes of the liver; hence, providing the origin of the name given to the phylum.