Liverworts:
- Form: Liverworts typically have a flattened, leaf-like structure known as a thallus. The thallus is usually closely attached to the substrate, such as the ground or rocks, forming a mat-like or crusty growth.
- Leaves: Liverworts lack true leaves, but they have small, scale-like appendages called "leaflets" or "lobes" arranged in various patterns on the thallus.
- Size: Liverworts are generally small, with a maximum size of a few centimeters.
Mosses:
- Form: Mosses have a more complex structure compared to liverworts. They consist of a stem-like structure with small, leaf-like appendages called "phylloids" arranged spirally around the stem.
- Leaves: Unlike liverworts, mosses have true leaves that are generally one cell thick. These leaves are usually small, simple in structure, and lack vascular tissues.
- Size: Mosses can vary in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters in height, forming dense carpets or cushions in moist habitats.
Hornworts:
- Form: Hornworts have a unique structure that distinguishes them from liverworts and mosses. They consist of a small, thallose body from which a horn-like or cylindrical structure called the sporophyte emerges.
- Leaves: Hornworts have small, leaf-like structures called "leaflets" that are arranged in a rosette pattern around the base of the sporophyte.
- Size: Hornworts are generally small, reaching a maximum height of a few centimeters, and are commonly found in wet or humid environments, often in association with mosses and liverworts.
In summary, liverworts have a flattened thallus-like structure, mosses have a stem-like structure with true leaves, and hornworts have a unique form with a thallose body and a horn-like sporophyte. These differences in appearance reflect their diverse adaptations to different habitats and ecological niches.