Question

How do bryophytes differ from vascular plants?

Answer 1

Vascular system in plants include xylem and phloem. Vascular plants are known as pteridophytes. Bryophytes are nonvascular plants which produce flowers and seeds. Example mosses and liverwort. Pteridophytes are called true ferns whose body is differentiated into leaves, stem, root.

Complete answer:
Bryophytes are the ancient species of the plant which are non-vascular but produce flowers and seeds. Around 20,000 species of bryophytes are known till now. They preferably grow in moist environments but can be found in dry habitat as well. They provide water and nutrients to the plants that grow along with them.
Pteridophytes are the vascular plants which do not produce flowers and seeds. They are also called cryptogams. They are true ferns. They possess definite leaves, stems and roots.
Vascular and nonvascular plants differ widely. A detailed discussion is given in the table below.

Bryophytes	Vascular plants
These are non-vascular plants.	These are vascular plants.
The body is leaf like or thalloid.	Differentiation of body into leaf, root and stem is present.
Xylem and Phloem are absent.	Xylem and Phloem are present.
Rhizoids are present in place of roots.	Roots are present for anchorage.
Reproduction is through formation of gametes.	Reproduction is through sporophyte.
They have stalked anthredium.	They have sessile anthredium.
Cells are haploid.	Cells are diploid.
Example- Liverworts.	Example- Ferns.

Note: Another group of unicellular plants which do not possess vascular systems are called thallophytes. Algae, fungi, lichens are thallophytes. The body is not differentiated rather it is a thallus. The plant body is simple and is present in an aquatic environment.