any plant of the phyla Bryophyta (mosses), Hepatophyta (liverworts), or Anthocerophyta (hornworts), having stems and leaves but lacking true vascular tissue and roots and reproducing by spores
Derived forms
bryophytic (ˌbraɪəˈfɪtɪk)
adjective
Word origin
C19: New Latin, from Greek bruon moss + -phyte
bryophyte in American English
(ˈbraɪoʊˌfaɪt; ˈbraɪəˌfaɪt)
noun
any of a division (Bryophyta) of plants consisting of the mosses and liverworts