Question

Which group of plants are called the ‘amphibians’ of the plant kingdom? What are their identifying features? Give examples.

Answer 1

Bryophytes are called ‘amphibians’ of the plant kingdom because they grow in moist soil but need water for reproduction.

• These plants are thalloid, multicellular and autotrophic.
• They reproduce by spore formation.
• The structure of the plant body of bryophytes is flat, ribbon-like long, without true roots, stem and leaves. Instead, they have stem-like or leaf-like parts and root-like rhizoids.

Examples are Moss (Funaria), Marchantia, Anthoceros, Riccia, etc.