Describe the common characteristics of Bryophytic plants.

(N/A) $\rightarrow$Habitat: They are commonly found growing in moist,shaded areas in the hills.
$\rightarrow$Bryophytes are often called the amphibians of the plant kingdom because they can live in soil but are dependent on water for sexual reproduction.
$\rightarrow$They play an important role in plant succession on bare rocks and soil.
$\rightarrow$Body structure: The plant body of bryophytes is more differentiated than that of algae.
$\rightarrow$It is thallus-like and either prostrate or erect.
$\rightarrow$They are attached to the substratum by unicellular or multicellular rhizoids.
$\rightarrow$They lack true roots,stems,or leaves. They may possess root-like,leaf-like,or stem-like structures.
$\rightarrow$The main plant body is haploid and is called a gametophyte.
$\rightarrow$Reproductive organs: The sex organs in bryophytes are multicellular.
$\rightarrow$The male sex organ is called antheridium,which produces biflagellate antherozoids.
$\rightarrow$The female sex organ is called archegonium. It is flask-shaped and produces a single egg.
$\rightarrow$Fertilization: The antherozoids are released into water,where they come in contact with the archegonium.
$\rightarrow$An antherozoid fuses with the egg to produce a zygote.
$\rightarrow$Zygotes do not undergo reduction division (meiosis) immediately; they produce a multicellular body called a sporophyte.
$\rightarrow$The sporophyte is not free-living but is attached to the photosynthetic gametophyte and derives nourishment from it.
$\rightarrow$Some cells of the sporophyte undergo reduction division to produce haploid spores.
$\rightarrow$Economic Importance: While generally of little economic importance,some mosses provide food for herbaceous mammals,birds,and other animals.
$\rightarrow$Species of $Sphagnum$,a moss,provide peat,which has long been used as fuel and as packing material for the trans-shipment of living material due to its high water-holding capacity.