The main characteristics of the Mosses are:
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The mosses are the plants which are inhabit on moist brick walls and they form a thick layer as a mat on forest floor as well as on the shaded trees.
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Mosses also require water as a medium for completing their life cycle.
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The gametophytic plant body has short stem and large number of whorls of leaves surrounding it.
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There is alternation of generation between the haploid gametophytic phase and the diploid sporophytic phase.
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The gametophytic phase produces the haploid gametes.
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The sperm is produced inside the antheridia and egg is produced inside the archegonia.
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Fertilization occurs resulting in the formation of the zygote which undergoes mitosis and forms the sporophyte.
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The gametophytic plant body anchor to the substratum by means of rhizoids.
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The sporophyte is attached to the gametophytic plant body. It lacks chlorophyll it depends on the photosynthetic gametophyte.
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The sporophyte consists of the foot, stalk and a capsule.
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By meiotic division the haploid spores are produced inside the capsule.
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As the spores matures the lid of the capsule get opened.
