Bryophytes: Mosses

Question 1

What are the key characteristics of Bryophytes?

Answer 1

• Small compact, green plants
• No vascular bundles
• Need water to reproduce
• Short lived

Question 2

How do bryophytes obtain nutrients?

Answer 2

Dust, rainwater, soil water

Question 3

How do bryophytes absorb water?

Answer 3

By capillary action

Question 4

Describe the key characteristics of acrocarpous mosses.

Answer 4

• Grow upright
• Unbranched
• Archegonia and Antheridia located at tips of shoots
• Sporophyte is also at tips of shoots
• Rhizoids located at base of stem
• Form cushions

Question 5

Describe the key characteristics of pleurocarpous mosses.

Answer 5

• Prostrate growth form
• Branched
• Archegonia and Antheridia located in axils of leaves
• Sporophyte also arises from axils
• Rhizoids located along stems
• Generally lie flat on substrate

Question 6

How can you tell the difference between the moss protonema vs. filamentous green algae

Answer 6

Moss Protonema

• Oblique cross walls
• Lens-shaped chloroplasts

Filamentous green algae

• Straight cross walls
• Crescent-shaped chloroplasts