Since bryophytes do not have a structure to keep and transport water, they must live near water so that they will be able to use it whenever they need it. In addition, water is needed for reproduction. The sperm must swim through water to join the egg of other individuals.

See explanation.

The three groups of bryophytes are:

A. Mosses, which are under the phylum Bryophyta, grow abundantly in wetlands such as swamps, bogs, marshes, streams, and other areas with an abundant supply of water such as rainforests.

B. Liverworts, which are members of the phylum Hepaticophyta, live in terrestrial habitats that are made up of damp soil throughout the entire year.

C. Hornworts, which are from the phylum Anthocerophyta, are thriving in damp places just like the liverworts.

In mosses and other bryophytes, the haploid gametophyte is the dominant phase in their life cycle. Since photosynthesis is carried out during the dominant stage, the sporophyte phase is dependent on the gametocyte when it comes to water and nutrients. In addition, the gametophyte is a more recognizable phase since these bryophytes reproduce using spores, and not by seeds or flowers. During mitosis, gametes or haploid cells fuse together to grow a new diploid cell called sporophyte. In turn, this sporophyte grows on top of the gametophyte part of the plant.

Antheridium is a structure in plant that contains sperm. Archegonium is also a structure that contains plant’s eggs. When the sperm reaches into the egg, fertilization occurs and zygote is produced. The zygote is in the sporophyte stage, but it will turn into gametophyte stage soon.

See explanation.

Lack of vascular tissue is responsible for smallness of bryophyte plants. They cannot grow tall because they do not have vascular tissue that transports water and nutrients to the leaves from the stem. So, the leaves had to be very close to water for them to get water via osmosis.