Question
Question: Are Bryophytes Epiphytes?...
Are Bryophytes Epiphytes?
Solution
Bryophytes are the non-vascular plants which lack vascular system and lack true roots.An epiphyte is an organism that emerges from the air, rain, water (in aquatic environments) or from particles growing round it on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from its surrounding.
Complete answer:
Bryophytes are the group of non-vascular plants which comprise liverworts, hornworts and mosses. They are small in size and prefer to survive in moist habitats. The plant body is like thallus. They lack vascular systems and the plant body is not well differentiated. They possess root-live, stem-like and leaf-like structure.
The bryophytes can be found attached to the substratum through special root-like structures called the rhizoids. This rhizoid not only helps the plant absorb moisture from the surrounding but also provides support and strength to the plant. Many bryophytes are strict epiphytes. Epiphytes are called the air plants which grow on the trees. They only grow on other plants but do not derive nutrition from them. They are not parasitic in nature. These strict epiphytes are found in the temperate zone.
So the bryophytes are epiphytes.
Note: Epiphytes differ from parasites because they develop on other vegetation for bodily support and they do not depend for its nutrients on the host plant. They do not have any effect on the host plant unnecessarily. They are usually found in the tropic or temperate zone. These species make a contribution well as vegetation due to their minimal soil and water requirement. They are one of the sources of imparting rich and considerable habitat to our ecosystem.