Classification of Bryophyte

A growing consensus suggests that the bryophytes possibly represent three separate evolutionary lineages.

Which are today recognized as mosses (phylum Bryophyta), liverworts (phylum Marchantiophyta) and hornworts (phylum Anthocerotophyta).

Bryophyte

BRYOPHYTE

ANTHOCEROTOPHYTA

MARCHANTIOPHYTA

BRYOPHYTA

Each moss sporophyte consists of a foot, stalk, and sporangium-containing capsule that extends outward from the "leafy" gametophyte plant.

Mosses (Bryophyta)

These sporophytes are somewhat parasitic toward the adult gametophytes to which they are attached, even though these sporophytes are able to produce much of their own food through photosynthesis

Mosses

The estimate of the number of species range from 10,000 to 15,000.

Higher-level classification of the mosses remains unresolved with considerable difference of opinion on the names of the major groups

Generally four major groups or classes are recognised

Mosses

Sphagnopsida

(peat or Sphagnum mosses)

Andreaeopsida

(rock or lantern mosses)

Polytrichopsida

(nematodontous mosses)

Bryopsida(arthrodontous mosses).

Classes of Mosses