Seedless PlantsSeedless Plants

Mosses and LiverwortsMosses and LiverwortsFerns, Horsetails, and Club Ferns, Horsetails, and Club MossesMosses

Mosses and LiverwortsMosses and Liverworts SmallSmall Live on bark, rocks, Live on bark, rocks,

and soiland soil No vascular No vascular

systemsystem Must live in places Must live in places

that are wetthat are wet No true roots, No true roots,

stems, or leavesstems, or leaves

MossesMosses

LiverwortsLiverworts

Mosses and LiverwortsMosses and Liverworts

Live together in large groupsLive together in large groups Covering soil or rocks in a mat of Covering soil or rocks in a mat of

tiny green plantstiny green plants Each moss has Each moss has rhizoidsrhizoids (root- (root-

like structures)like structures) RhizoidsRhizoids help anchor the plant help anchor the plant

Importance of Mosses Importance of Mosses and Liverworts:and Liverworts:

Usually the first plants to inhabit a new Usually the first plants to inhabit a new environment.environment.

Form a thin layer of soil when they die.Form a thin layer of soil when they die. They help hold the soil in place which They help hold the soil in place which

prevents erosion.prevents erosion. Nesting material for birds.Nesting material for birds. Peat moss can be burned as fuel.Peat moss can be burned as fuel.

Ferns, Horsetails, and Ferns, Horsetails, and Club Mosses:Club Mosses:

Grow tallGrow tall Have vascular Have vascular

systemssystems

FernsFerns

FernsFerns

Can grow almost Can grow almost anywhere.anywhere.

Have an Have an underground stem underground stem called a called a rhizome.rhizome.

Leaves are called Leaves are called frondsfronds..

HorsetailsHorsetails

HorsetailsHorsetails

Small vascular plants.Small vascular plants. Grow less than 1.3 meters tall.Grow less than 1.3 meters tall. Grow in wet, marshy places.Grow in wet, marshy places. Stems are hollow and contain cilia.Stems are hollow and contain cilia. Pioneers used them to scrub pots Pioneers used them to scrub pots

and pans.and pans.

Club MossesClub Mosses

25 cm tall.25 cm tall. Grow in Grow in

woodlands.woodlands. Unlike other Unlike other

mosses, they mosses, they have vascular have vascular tissue.tissue.

Importance of Seedless Importance of Seedless Vascular PlantsVascular Plants Help form soil when they die.Help form soil when they die. Also hold soil in place to prevent Also hold soil in place to prevent

erosion.erosion. Ferns serve as house plants.Ferns serve as house plants. Some are cooked and eaten.Some are cooked and eaten. Formed coal.Formed coal.