The Bryophytes (non vascular plants)

The first plants to colonize the earth were primitive plants that have remained much unchanged until this day. Botanically they are referred to as the Bryophytes.

Members of the Bryophytes include:

Hornworts

Liverworts

The mosses are a large group of Brophytes. All members of the Bryophhytes lack vascular tissue to transport water. Instead they rely on osmosis & capillary action. This greatly limits their size.

Vascular Plants Tracheophytes

Tracheophytes are plants that have evolved active transport mechanisms using special structures to move water & nutrients around their tissues. Xylem moves water up the plant while Phloem move nutrients down from the foliage to all parts of the plant bellow. These plants have a more advanced plumbing system which allows for larger more complex growth.

Spore Bearing Plants

The plants in this group all are ancient changing little from the days of the dinosaurs. Instead of seeds we have spores. These plants lack wood. Many of the plants in this group need to grow in relatively moist areas.

Plants without seeds.

Clubmosses

Horsetails

The Ferns

The ferns constitute a large portion of the plants that reproduce via spores. Spores on underside of Fern leaf