Bryofyyttejä

Bryofyytit, commonly known as bryophytes, are a group of non-vascular plants that include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. They are found in a wide variety of habitats, but are particularly abundant in damp, shaded environments. Bryophytes are small, typically growing to only a few centimeters in height, and lack true roots, stems, and leaves. Instead, they have simple leaf-like structures called phyllids, stem-like structures called caulids, and root-like structures called rhizoids which anchor them to their substrate.

Reproduction in bryophytes is primarily through spores. They have a distinct alternation of generations, with a dominant gametophyte generation and a sporophyte generation that is dependent on the gametophyte for nutrition. The gametophyte is the green, leafy part of the plant that most people recognize. Male and female reproductive structures are produced on the gametophyte, and fertilization requires water for the sperm to swim to the egg. The sporophyte typically consists of a stalk and a capsule where spores are produced.

Bryophytes play important ecological roles. They help to retain moisture in soils, prevent erosion, and provide habitat and food for various small invertebrates. In some ecosystems, they can be dominant ground cover. Their sensitivity to air pollution also makes them useful bioindicators for environmental monitoring. While they do not have the significant economic importance of vascular plants, some species are used in horticulture, as packing material, or historically in traditional medicine.