Which one of the following groups is called ‘amphibians of plant kingdom’?
Bryophytes
Thallophytes
Pteridophytes
Gymnosperms
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This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2022
Bryophytes, which include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts, are often referred to as the ‘amphibians of the plant kingdom’. This is because, while they are terrestrial plants inhabiting damp environments, they are dependent on water for fertilization. The male gametes (sperms) of bryophytes are motile and require a film of water to swim to the egg cell. This dependence on water for reproduction is analogous to how amphibians (like frogs) live on land but require water for breeding.
Bryophytes require water for sexual reproduction, linking their life cycle to moist environments, hence the term ‘amphibians of the plant kingdom’.