Study of Bryophyta: Characterstics, Life Cycle and Economic Importance

Abstract

Bryophytes are small, non-vascular land plants that require water for reproduction. Land plants fall into two categories: those that have special tissues to transport water and other materials, called vascular plants; and those that do not have specialized tissues, called non-vascular plants. Bryophytes are non-vascular, so they do not have the right types of tissues to develop roots, stems, or leaves. They don’t attain great heights because of absence of roots, vascular tissues, mechanical tissues and cuticle. They are terrestrial but require external water to complete their life cycle. Hence, they are called “Amphibians of plant kingdom”.