Hornwort

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Hornwort

Hornwort (pronunciation: /ˈhɔːrnwɜːrt/) is a type of non-vascular plant that belongs to the division Anthocerotophyta. The name 'hornwort' is derived from the Old English words 'horn' and 'wyrt', which mean 'horn' and 'plant', respectively.

Etymology

The term 'hornwort' is derived from the Old English 'horn' and 'wyrt', which mean 'horn' and 'plant', respectively. This is due to the horn-like structure of the sporophyte, which is a key characteristic of the plant.

Description

Hornworts are small, green, non-vascular plants that typically grow in damp, shaded areas. They are characterized by their horn-like sporophytes, which grow from a basal rosette of leaves. Unlike other bryophytes, hornworts have a single large chloroplast per cell.

Reproduction

Hornworts reproduce both sexually and asexually. The sexual reproduction involves the production of spores in the horn-like sporophytes, which are then dispersed by wind or water. The asexual reproduction involves the growth of new plants from fragments of existing ones.

Taxonomy

Hornworts belong to the division Anthocerotophyta, which is one of the three divisions of bryophytes. There are about 100-150 species of hornworts, divided into five families and twelve genera.

Related Terms

  • Bryophyte: A group of non-vascular plants that includes mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.
  • Sporophyte: The diploid, spore-producing phase in the life cycle of a plant.
  • Chloroplast: An organelle found in plant cells and some algae, where photosynthesis occurs.
  • Anthocerotophyta: The division of plants that includes the hornworts.

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