What is the difference between ferns and mosses: is there a difference between plants
Ferns and mosses belong to the group of higher spore plants. At one time they completely captured the Earth. Somewhat later, such cultures gave way to the leading positions of angiosperms and gymnosperms. At the same time, not everyone knows exactly how ferns differ from mosses. These types of cultures are characterized by differences that relate to many nuances.
What kind of plants are these
Mosses are among the highest crops. This department includes more than a hundred families. It includes 700 genera and about 10 thousand varieties. This species is considered one of the oldest.Its origin is dated to the Carboniferous period. At the same time, several classes of mosses are distinguished. These include leafy, anthocerotic. In addition, there are hepatic varieties. The most common are leafy mosses, which are also called true. Today they are called "cuckoo flax" and "sphagnum" .
Fern-like crops are considered the oldest of the plants that have survived on Earth. Their origin is dated to the Devonian period. It existed about 400 million years ago. Such plants have different shapes, dimensions, life expectancy. Although the cultures are characterized by a range of visual features, they have over 10,000 varieties.
Main differences
The difference between cultures concerns a number of characteristic features. These include size, structure, reproduction.
In size
The key difference between the varieties under consideration is their size. Mosses are small plants. They are devoid of mechanical tissues, which are well developed. Therefore, such species cannot hold the structure. Large dimensions would provoke a fall.
Ferns can reach impressive dimensions. This is due to the fact that they have good root development. Such cultures are characterized by a clear differentiation of tissues. This makes it possible to develop a powerful mechanical structure that interacts with other plant elements. Due to this, ferns can grow to gigantic sizes.
What is special about their structures
Ferns are crops that can be herbaceous or woody. They are characterized by modified shoots. On them, with the help of petioles, fronds are attached, which are considered pseudo-leaves. This is the initial stage of evolution on the way to the formation of true leaves in crops. Vayi have two important functions. They take part in photosynthesis and are responsible for the formation of spores.
For mosses, the presence of a stem and leaves is also characteristic.But they are visually different. The leaves are small and contain chlorophyll. Many representatives of this category are characterized by lower leaves of a yellowish-brown color. This is due to damage to the pigment with a lack of light. However, such plants are devoid of roots. They are attached to the ground by rhizoids, which are multicellular hair-like sprouts.
By reproduction
Fern plants spread in different ways - by vegetative means or by means of spores. In the first case, the kidneys and roots are involved. Mosses reproduce by spores, which mature in the sporangium of the sporophyte. He, in turn, is the leg that possesses the box.
Sporophyte has a short lifespan and dries out quickly. After that, the box opens, and spores spill out of it. A culture emerges from them, which is characterized by a haploid set of chromosomes.
Other differences
Other cultural differences include the following:
- Ferns are old cultures. They occupied a leading position during the Mesozoic.
- Ferns are dioecious and mosses are monoecious.
- Gas, oil, and coal were formed from fern-like crops. Mosses were the basis for the formation of peat clumps.
- Moss leaves produce only chlorophyll. Fern leaves are involved in photosynthesis and spore production.
- Mosses have rhizoids, while ferns have rhizomes.
What could happen after the extinction of ferns and mosses
After the extinction of ferns, significant accumulations of valuable minerals formed in the soil. Among them, it is worth highlighting oil, gas, coal. Mosses formed the basis for the formation of peat mined in peatlands.It is used as an organic top dressing and a raw material base for the production of paints, plastics, alcohol and other materials.
Moss and fern plants are characterized by a number of nuances. The difference concerns the structure, visual signs, life expectancy and other features.
