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Question : Describe common characteristics of Bryophytic plants. |
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Answer» Solution :• Habitat: They are commonly growing in moist shaded areas in the hills. • Bryophytes are also called amphibians of the plant kingdom because these plants can live in soil but are dependent on water for sexual reproduction • They play an important role in plant succession on bare rocks / soil. • Body structure : The plant body of bryophytes is more differentiated than that of algae. It is thallus-like and prostrate or erect. • They are attached to the SUBSTRATUM by unicellular or multicellular rhizoids. They lack true roots, stem or leaves. • They may possess root-like, leaf-like or stem-like structures. • The main plant of the body is haploid. It is called a gametophyte. Reproductive organs : The sex organs in bryophytes are multicellular. • The male sex organ is called antheridium. They produces biflagellate antherozoids. • The female sex organ is called archegonium. It is flask-shaped and produces a single egg • Fertilization : • antheroizoids are RELEASED into water where they can come in contact with archegonium. • An antherozoid fuses with the egg to produce zygote. • Zygotes do not undergo reduction division (Meiosis) immediately, They produce a multicellular body called a sporophyte. • The sporophyte is not free-living but attached to the photosynthetic gametophyte and derives nourishment from it. • cells of the sporophyte undergo reduction division to produce haploid spores. • Economic Importance of Bryophytes : • Bryophytes in general are of little economic importance but some Mosses provide food for herbaceous mammals, birds and other animals. • Species of Sphagnum, a moss, provide peat that have long been used as fuel and as packing material for trans-shipment of living material because of their CAPACITY to hold water. • Mosses along with lichens are the first organisms to colonise rocks and hence are of great economical importance. • They decompose rocks making the substrate suitable for the GROWTH of higher plants. • Since Mosses form dense mats on the soil, they reduce the impact of falling rain and prevent soil erosion. • Types of Bryophytes : The bryophytes are divided into liverworts and mosses. |
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