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Bryophyta DivisionBryophyta is the Plant Division that contains mosses. Plants in this Division havecrude stems and leaves, but no roots. Instead of roots, they have "rhizoids." Rhizoids

help anchor the plant to a surface, but they do not absorb nutrients like roots on other plants do. Instead of using flowers to make seeds, mosses release spores from their leaves. Spores can travel by water and make new mosses in new locations. Water isvery important to mosses, so they can grow and spread; however, mosses can surviveeven when they dry out. When they become wet again, they revive and continuegrowing.

The Bryophyta Division is split into three main Classes, listed below:

Bryopsida Class: Mosses in this Class are called "True Mosses" and make up 95% of

the mosses in the world. There is a great variety of shapes and colors for mosses in theBryopsida Class. Includes: Atrichum Mosses, Lyellia Mosses, Tetrodontium Mosses,Bryum Mosses, Copper Mosses, Arctoa Mosses, and Leucobryum Mosses, as well asmany others.

The Bryopsida Class is split into several Orders, some of which are listed below:

Polytrichales Order: Includes Atrichum Mosses, Lyellia Mosses, and PolytrichumMosses.

Tetraphidales Order: Includes Tetraphis Mosses and Tetrodontium Mosses.

Bryales Order: Includes Bryum Mosses, Copper Mosses, Rhizomnium Mosses, andTimmia Mosses.

Dicranales Order: Includes Leucobryum Mosses, Trichodon Mosses, and ArctoaMosses.

Andreaeopsida Class: Mosses in this Class, also called "Lantern Mosses," grow onthe surfaces of rocks. They range in color from reddish to blackish. Includes:

Andreaea Mosses and Andreaeobryum Mosses.

The Andreaeopsida Class is split into two Orders:

Andreaeales Order: Includes Andreaea Mosses.

Andreaeobryales Order: Includes Andreaeobryum Mosses.

Sphagnopsida Class: These mosses, also known as "Peat Mosses," are burned asfuel. Peat Moss is also an important part of habitat for crops, such as blueberries.

The Sphagnopsida Class only contains one Order:

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Sphagnales Order: Includes Sphagnum Mosses.

All of the Orders above have been split into smaller groups, called Families. Familiesare then split into Genera. Remember, as each group gets smaller, organisms in thatgroup are more and more alike. Each Genus will contain individual Species.

http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/bryophyta.htm

BRYOPHYTA (mosses and Liverworts)

Subtaxa

Rank

Taxon

Class

ANDREAEOPSIDA (rock mosses) 2 16 6 1

Class BRYOPSIDA (mosses)

113

662

328

431

22

Class HEPATICAE (liverworts) 54

319

167

166

17

Class

SPHAGNOPSIDA (bog mosses) 11 45 45 20 8

Suggested Literature

Identification Works

Atherton, I., Bosanquet, S & Lawley, M. (eds), 2010 British Mosses and Liverworts - a field guide

Frey, W. Frahm, J.-P., Fischer, E. & Lobin, W., 2006

The Liverworts, Mosses and Ferns of Europe

Jahns, H.M., 1980 Ferns, Mossses and Lichens of Britain, Northern &Central Europe Jewell, A.L., 1955 The Observer's Book of Mosses and Liverworts

Phillips, R., 1980 Grasses, Ferns, Mosses and Lichens of Great Britain andIrelandPorley, R., 2008 (Arableland species)

Arable Bryophytes: Field Guide: The Mosses, Liverwortsand Hornworts of Cultivated Land in Britain and Ireland

Watson, E. V., 1955 British Mosses and Liverworts (Ed 1)Watson, E. V., 1968 British Mosses and Liverworts (Ed 2)

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