What is a bryophyte?

     Never heard of a bryophyte before? Not to worry, we've got you covered. Bryophyte is the name of the group of land plants containing mosses, hornworts, and liverworts. Bryophytes do not have the same complex vascular and root systems as other plants. Instead they simply absorb water and nutrients through their surface. You can find bryophytes on every continent (including Antarctica), many substrates (i.e. rocks, soil, trees), and across a range of environmental conditions (i.e. dry to wet, shady to sunny, hot to cold). 

​Why do Bryophytes Matter?

     Bryophytes play a vital role in ecosystems! From influencing water cycling to impacting the amount of carbon and nitrogen entering and leaving systems, bryophytes mediate many important ecosystem processes on land and within the streams and wetlands where they occur. Bryophytes also interact with and impact other co-occurring plants throughout the plant life cycle. The "bryosphere", or physical environment above and belowground formed by live and senescent bryophytes, supports a multitude of fauna (i.e. protozoa, slime molds, intvertebrates, etc). 

Want to Learn more?

     To learn more about bryophytes follow the link to the online Bryophyte Ecology textbook or British Bryological Society's (BBS) Learn More page. If you're ready to bryologize for yourself head to the BBS Getting Started page for tips. When you're ready to share your findings, connect with like minded individuals on iNaturalist!

Still can't get enough?
The Eagle Hill Institute offers some amazing summer field seminars on bryophytes! 

Join a bryophyte foray to look at bryophytes with experts (all skill levels are welcome)! 
West Coast foray (US) - So Be Free is a spring foray that was started by bryologists at UC Berkeley and now managed by the Californa Native Plant Society Bryophyte Chapter.

Central foray (US) - The Ohio Moss and Lichen Association hosts one day and multiple day forays (spring, summer, and fall) around Ohio.

East Coast foray (US) - The Blomquist Foray is a semi-annual spring bryophyte and lichen foray. Hosts for this foray rotate but should be easy to locate online sometime in December. 

Check out our Get Involved page for more suggestions.