Mosses
Mosses
Mosses (pronunciation: /ˈmɔːsɪz/) are small, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic division Bryophyta. Mosses typically form dense green clumps or mats, often in damp or shady locations.
Etymology
The term "moss" is derived from the Old English mos, which means "a bog," and its related term mossen means "to become boggy."
Description
Mosses are non-vascular plants that absorb water and nutrients mainly through their leaves and harvest carbon dioxide and sunlight to create food by photosynthesis. They differ from vascular plants in lacking water-bearing xylem tracheids or vessels. As in liverworts and hornworts, the haploid gametophyte generation is the dominant phase of the life cycle. This contrasts with the pattern in all vascular plants (seed plants and pteridophytes), where the diploid sporophyte generation is dominant.
Classification
Mosses are classified into the division Bryophyta, which is further divided into three classes: Bryopsida, Polytrichopsida, and Sphagnopsida. Each class is characterized by its unique morphological characteristics.
Related Terms
- Bryophyta: The taxonomic division that includes mosses.
- Non-vascular plants: Plants that lack a water-conducting system.
- Vascular plants: Plants that have a system to conduct water and nutrients.
- Liverworts: A type of non-vascular plant that is often grouped with mosses.
- Hornworts: Another type of non-vascular plant that is often grouped with mosses.
- Bryopsida: The most diverse class of mosses.
- Polytrichopsida: A class of mosses known for their tall, stalk-like appearance.
- Sphagnopsida: A class of mosses that includes the peat mosses.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Mosses
- Wikipedia's article - Mosses
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