Non -vascular plants: what are, characteristics and examples

It is known as briophytes or non -vascular plants, in general, those that They lack roots, stems and leaves. To this is added that they also have tubular or conductive vessels. Therefore, al Do not have a vascular system, xylem and phloemthe question always arises: what is the form of transport in non -vascular plants?

The answer is simple, non -vascular plants have other simpler structures for water transport, also called Poiquilohipricos. With these they absorb water directly from the environment itself and move it through its structure.

Due to their small primitive size and composition, they are one of the most complex botanical groups when studying them. However, we can find them all over the world, in deserts, jungles, mountains and even at sea level.

These are the Characteristics of non -vascular or briophite plants:

• The main characteristic of non -vascular plants is that they have no conductive fabrics, that is, it has neither xylem and phloem. Here you can learn more about the types of plant tissues, such as xylem and phloem.
• Non -vascular plants also have what is known as true organs: roots, stems and leaves. However, they have less developed structures to fulfill the necessary functions for their development.
• Due to the absence of specialized tissues, this type of plants always grow and develop in humid environments. Thus, thanks to their own regulation system, called poiquilohydric, they are able to regulate the loss of vital fluid
• In spite of commenting on it, non -vascular plants tolerate fluctuations of both moisture and temperature quite easily. This is because many species have the ability to enter Letargo until favorable conditions for their survival appear.
• Although to a lesser extent than vascular plants, we can find non -vascular plants throughout our planet. From desert areas, acid soils and even Arctic tundra.
• Non -vascular plants fail to reach large dimensions. They also do not have flowers or fruits, so it makes it difficult to identify and differentiation between species. In fact, they usually do not usually reach beyond 5 cm high and their coloration is always quite striking.

The first thing we should know is that non -vascular plants, also known as briophytes, are divided into three groups:

• Mushrooms
• Antocetes
• Hepatic

Phylum Bryophyta or mosses

The mosses are anchored to the ground through the curls, primitive structures that are used as an anchoring method to the surface. They are usually found in highlands and can develop both in the shadow and under sunlight. In addition, they fulfill a very important function such as preventing erosion, facilitating land retention of the land and favoring the growth of other plant species.

Know more about them in this other post about mosses: what are, characteristics and examples.

Phylum hepatophyta or hepatic

Hepatic plants, unlike mosses, do not have structures that characterize or help them improve their subjection to the ground. These absorb water and nutrients directly from the place where they grow. They can reach up to 20 cm in diameter and have more than 8500 species within their division, which includes more than 60 families well differentiated from each other. They are also typical of wet climates, although there are also species that can develop in more arid areas.

Here you can read more about liver plants: what are, characteristics, types and examples.

Phylum Anthocerophyta or Antocetes

Antocetes, also known as Hornworts, are called sporophytes, structures that come to the surface and have a similar shape to that of a horn. As with mosses and liver prefer wet areas for growth and development. They usually grow in wet areas.

To expand more your knowledge about the Anthocephyta edge, we advise you to read this other article about the antholeros: what are, characteristics and examples.

After knowing the different groups, here are some Examples of non -vascular plants:

• H. NOBILIS Var Pyrenean
• H. Transilvanica
• H. Marchantía Polymorpha
• Lunularia Cruciata
• Riccia Fluitans
• Polytrichum commune
• Vesicularia Dubyana

These are the differences between non -vascular plants and vascular plants:

• The biggest difference between these two types of plants lies in the fact that briófitas or non -vascular are More primitive ways of life that do not have the presence of stem, leaves, flowers and fruits.
• Non -vascular plants have the main function to maintain and regulate the Environmental humidity While vascular plants are one of the main food sources for other living beings.
• Another of the big differences is How to perform reproduction in non -vascular plantssince, by not having seeds as with vascular plants, they reproduce for spores and only in favorable conditions.
• Broophytes are easily recognized due to their small size and your intense colorationalmost always intense green, as with the moss. On the contrary, vascular plants have endless differentiations between much clearer species such as leaves, the stem, their flowers and their fruits.
• Finally, the percentage of non -vascular plants that exist throughout the planet is much lower than in the case of vascular. In addition, they are much more complex to distinguish due to their similarities and similar between different species.

To expand more your knowledge about these types of vegetation, we advise you to take a look at this other article on vascular plants: what are, characteristics and examples.

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