Video Transcript
Download
Bryophytes are the ancestors of all plants on Earth. They were the first plants to colonize dry land 400 million years ago. While they traditionally are referred to as “mosses,” they are divided into 3 classes: mosses, liverworts and hornworts. Sphagnum, or peat moss, is the most well-known of the bryophytes, because it contributes to the formation of peat and peat bogs. Bryophytes do not have roots, and they get their nutrients from the air, and from rainwater. There are nearly 900 species of bryophytes in Quebec. More than 250 species can be found in the Mont Saint-Hilaire Biosphere Reserve.