Nonseed

Nonseed is a term used to describe organisms that do not produce seeds, primarily within the plant kingdom. It encompasses two broad groups: non-vascular plants known as bryophytes (mosses, liverworts, hornworts) and seedless vascular plants such as ferns, whisk ferns, horsetails, and clubmosses. These groups are distinguished from seed plants, which reproduce by seeds and generally have a dominant sporophyte generation.

Bryophytes are small, ground-hugging plants that lack true vascular tissue. They rely on diffusion for water and nutrient transport and have a life cycle dominated by the gametophyte stage. Reproduction requires liquid water for the motile sperm to reach the eggs, after which the sporophyte grows from the gametophyte and produces spores. Bryophytes include the true mosses, liverworts, and hornworts and are often found in moist environments.

Seedless vascular plants possess vascular tissue (xylem and phloem) but do not form seeds. They typically have a prominent sporophyte that bears sporangia, producing spores that give rise to a separate, often smaller, gametophyte generation. They exhibit alternation of generations, with the sporophyte usually being the dominant phase. Most seedless plants also depend on moist conditions for fertilization because their sperm are flagellated.

Ecology and evolution: Nonseed plants are among the earliest land plants and remain common in moist habitats, peatlands, and forest understories. They contribute to soil formation and nutrient cycling and can serve as indicators of moisture. Humans use many ferns ornamentally; some species have traditional medicinal uses, and conservation efforts focus on protecting moist habitats that support these moisture-dependent lineages.