Liverworts vs. Mosses

Main Difference

The main difference between liverworts and the mosses is that the liverworts have a gametophyte that is a foliose or a thallose, whereas the mosses have a gametophyte that is a prostate, branched filamentous structure.

Difference Between Liverworts and Mosses

Comparison Chart

Liverworts vs. Mosses

Liverworts have a gametophyte that is foliose or thallose, whereas mosses have a gametophyte that is a branched filamentous prostate. Liverworts are the non-vascular plants that consist of stems or leafy lobes, whereas the mosses are the non-vascular plants that consist of leafy stems. Liverworts fit the division Marchantiophyta, whereas the mosses fit the division Bryophyta.

Liverworts are the both dorsoventral and radial, whereas the mosses are the only radial. Liverworts consist of unicellular rhizoids, whereas the mosses consist of rhizoids that are pluricellular. Liverworts produce protonema that is reduced, whereas the mosses produce protonema that is prominent.

In liverworts, leafy structures are arranged in two or three rows in a flattened pattern, whereas in mosses, leafy structures are arranged in a whorl or spiral pattern. In liverworts, the sporangium has a little number of green tissues, whereas, in mosses, the sporangium has an adequate amount of green tissues.

Liverworts have leaf without a midrib, whereas the mosses have leaves with midrib. In liverworts, branching is usually is dichotomous, whereas, in mosses, branching is usually lateral and extra- axillary. In liverworts, capsule generally has elaters, whereas, in mosses, elaters are generally absent. In liverworts, peristome teeth are absent, whereas, in mosses, peristome teeth are present.

What are Liverworts?

Liverworts are the non-vascular plants in which gametophyte is foliose or thallose. Liverworts are the plants with conscious and independent gametophyte, which consists of leafy stems or lobes. Liverworts are classified as the division Marchantiophyta placed under the phylum Bryophyta. The liverworts consist of a single layer of cell in their leaves.

Liverworts usually grow by sprawling across the rocks, soil, and other plants. The leaf-like structure is coiled in two or three rows of flattened pattern. The sporophyte is conspicuous and depends on the gametophyte. It has roots like unicellular rhizoids that are involved in the uptake of water and is used for the attachment to the substrate.

It has sporangium that has a little number of green tissues. Peristome teeth re also absent in liverworts. Elaters are present in liverworts. In liverworts, the protonema is much reduced and completely absent.

Liverworts have either radial or dorsiventral symmetry. In liverworts, leaves are usually without a midrib. In it, the branching is usually dichotomous. In it, plants may bear amphigastria or scales. In it, the seta is fully developed into the mature spores. In it, capsule usually has elaters.

In liverworts, Columella is usually absent. Liverworts generally grow in a shady and damp or moist place. Asexual reproduction takes place in liverworts by fragmentation of thalli. In liverworts, gammae is located in thalli as asexual buds.

Examples

Riccia, Marchantia, and Porella, etc.

What are Mosses?

Mosses are the non-vascular plants in which gametophyte is a prostate. Mosses are the plants with prominent, conscious, and independent gametophyte have leaf-like stems. Mosses are classified into phylum Bryophyta as the division Bryophyta.

It has root-like rhizoids which are involved in the uptake of water and absorption of water from the soil. In it, leaves have a midrib. Its rhizoids are pluricellular. Mosses have radial symmetry. It has a large number of green tissues.

In mosses, branching of leaves is lateral and extra-axillary. In it, amphigastria or scales are usually absent. Due to a large number of green tissues in the sporangium, it makes it semi-independent. In mosses, seta grows very slowly and fully develops into mature spores.

Elaters are generally absent in mosses. In it, the peristome teeth are usually present in the apical region of capsule. Sterile columella usually presents in the capsule of mosses. In mosses, a branched and branched protonema is present. In mosses, chlorophyll and stomata are generally present in sporophyte for the gaseous exchange.

In mosses, a capsule is regular and sex organs usually develop from the superficial cells that are present at the apex of the leafy gametophyte. In mosses, the gametophyte is the main plant body, which is branched and thalloid protonema.

Examples

Funaria, Polytricum, and Sphagnum, etc

Conclusion

The above discussion concludes that liverworts and mosses are the non-vascular plants. Liverworts are the plants in which gametophyte is thallose or foliose, whereas the mosses are the plants in which gametophyte is a prostate.