Non-vascular plants

Definition

Non-vascular plants are simple, seedless plants that lack a vascular system for water and nutrient transport. They primarily include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Non-vascular plants absorb water and nutrients directly through their surfaces.
2. They typically inhabit moist environments due to their reliance on external water sources.
3. Non-vascular plants reproduce via spores rather than seeds.
4. These plants do not have true roots, stems, or leaves; instead, they have structures called rhizoids.
5. Bryophytes are the most well-known group of non-vascular plants.

Review Questions

• What is the primary method of nutrient absorption in non-vascular plants?
• Name three types of non-vascular plants.
• How do non-vascular plants reproduce?

Related terms

Bryophytes: A group of non-vascular plants that includes mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.

Rhizoids: Hair-like structures in non-vascular plants that anchor them to the substrate and assist in water absorption.

Spores: Reproductive units in seedless plants like non-vascular and ferns that can develop into a new organism without sexual fusion.