10/04/16

BOT 105
LIFE FORMS

Growth Form: Definition

The general form adopted by colonies

of mature plants and is primarily
determined by shoot morphology (how
the shoots are oriented?)
Meusel also proposed a scheme but
this time based on the inherent
branching patterns and architecture of
the bryophyte shoots instead of the
general
physiognomy
of
the
vegetation
Growth form is thus a purely
morphological term

Turfs

Are held together with the soil by the

rhizoids (rhizoids for mesh of rhizoids;
usually acrocarpous or erect)
1. Short turfs
2. Tall turfs
Pendants

Life form

The habit of the plant in harmony with

its life conditions (Why creeping? Why
erect? Etc.)
Morphology of plants + factors
affecting this morphology
Made up of the growth form,
assemblage of individuals and the
influence of external factors
o E.g. moss in animal manure
(erect at the center, slanting at
sides due to the substrate)

Life Forms
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Cushions
Turfs
Pendants
Mats
Wefts
Fans

1. Cushions
Erect shoots radiating in more or less
compact
dome-shaped
groups
(hemispherical appearance)
Branches similar, adopting same
direction of growth as main shoot
(branches follow the orientation of the
main shoot)

Branching specially form near the

apex of shoot, thus adding to the size
of the cushion
If they are standing they are
hemispherical in shape. If they are
laterally
inhibited,
they
become
extraordinarily dense

Epiphytic species
Usually
plagiotropic
bryophytes
(growth direction either inclined or
horizontal;
never
upright;
pleurocarpous), the main shoots of
which hang down from the branches
and twigs of trees

Mats

Plagiotropic forming a generally dense

and
interwoven
mat,
extending
horizontally over the substratum
All shoots lie close to the substrate
and are attached to it by rhizoids

Wefts

Plagiotropic systems developed as a

result of the loose intertwining of
straggling shoots and branches, often
ascending and luxuriant (tip of lateral
branches ascending)

Fans

Creep on a stoloniferous main stem,

the shoots of which branch towards
one another in the same plant, project
horizontally to obliquely downwards
and usually have flattened leaves

BRYOPHYTE INTERACTION WITH OTHER

ORGANISMS
Types of Interaction

1. Competition
Lichens and terrestrial algae: potential
competitors (they shared substrate)
TYPES:
a. Exploitation type of competition
(nutrients and space limited)
E.g. Baeomyces rufus and Dicranella
heteromalla
a. Interference type of competition
Usually brought about by antibiotic
effects
Negative
effects
on
bryophytes
through
inhibition
of
spore
germination, protonmeal growth and
gametophyte growth
2. Parasitism
Death of bryophytes in the presence of
another organism does not necessarily
mean parasitism by latter. Anatomical
evidence is necessary. (check for
haustorial structures)
Parasitic fungi have appresoria or
haustorial structure and are very much
host specific.
o E.g.
Fungus usually attach the rhizoids
o Lyophyllum
palustre
on
Sphagnum
o Eocranartium muscicola
Bryophyte responses include the
production of antibarectial, fungostatic
and fungicidal substances
3. Mutualism
Associations with nitrogen fixing
organisms
Obligate interaction of cyanobacteria
with Blasia sp. and Anthoceros sp.
Facultative
interaction
of
cyanobacteria (Nostoc, Hapalosiphon
nd Cylindrospermum) and Sphagnum
Mychorrhiza
o Many
families
e.g.
Calypogeiacea, Cephaloziaceae,
and
Lepidoziaceae
have

characteristic swollen rhizoids.

Occur in rich organic substrates
o Fungus
stimulates
the
enlargement of the uptake
surface of water and nutrients
o Vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizal
(VAM)
fungi
observed
in
Anthoceros,
Marchantia,
Fossombronia,
Pellia
and
Pallavicinia
4. Commensalism
Epiphytism
Chlorophycaea on Bryum, Hypnum
and Sphagnum
Normandina pulchella on Frullania sp.
Effects on Vascular Plants
1. On seed predation
Dispersed seeds on a bryophyte mat
may be less apparent to the predators
than those on bare ground
2. Germination and emergence
Both the absence of bryophytes and
the presence of an excessively thick
moss layer reduced the emergence of
phanerograms
Reduction in the rate of germination
due to thick bryophyte:
o Red/ far red requirement of the
seed for germination
o Availability
of
water
and
nutrients
3. Mortality of Juvenile Plants
Due to drought
ASSIGNMENT (1/2 CW)
Research on the effects of pollutants in
Bryophytes (air, soil, water, etc.)
a. Describe the pollutants
b. What are the responses
bryophytes?

of

the