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Role of bryophytes in soil formation and growth of vegetation :- Lichens and mosses play a significant role in soil formation. They grow in the cracks and crevices of rocks and cause the weathering of rocks with the help of the acids they release. This leads to soil formation. The death and decay of these plants may also contribute to soil formation and favour the growth of vegetation. Role in the ecological succession on rock :- Liverworts, mosses and lichens serve as pioneers in lithosere (litharch succession, or succession on rock). They colonize bare rocks and similar habitats where other plants cannot get initially established. They initiate soil formation and gradually make these habitats ideal for colonization by other plants.
Role in bog succession :- Mosses play a significant role in bog succession from open water to climax forests. Plants, such as Sphagnum , establish themselves in lakes and other open water bodies and cover their whole surface area. Due to the constant deposition of plant debris, the bottom of the water body rises gradually. Sphagnum and other hydrophytes form a dense cover, transforming the water body into a quacking bog. Finally, large trees colonize the area ultimately transforming the swamp to a forest of mesophytic trees. Role of bryophytes in monitoring and control of pollution :- Some mosses, both live and sundried, can absorb metals (e.g. Sphagnum).
Well developed vascular system is absent. Polluted water, by all means, would affect the life form of bryophytes, including morphology, anatomy, fertilization spore germination and physiology. Thus, bryophytes are more sensitive to water pollution than to air pollution. Medicinal Uses :- Sphagnum has high absorptive power and antiseptic property due to this it was used for surgical dressing as well as for discharging wounds. The decoction prepared by boiling dried Sphagnum in water, is used for the treatment of acute haemorrhage and eye diseases. Marchantia polymorpha is used for the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis and liver diseases. The tea, made of Polytrichum commune, is used to dissolve kidney stones and
gall bladder stones. The aqueous extract of Conocephalum conicum is used as an antibiotic. The extracts of the mosses Barbula and Timella are antibiotically active against different strains of bacteria. Horticultural importance of bryophytes :- Sphagnum and moss peat are important in horticulture. Peat is added to heavy or clayey soil to improve its texture ; peat keeps the soil porous and prevents its caking. When added to dry, sandy soil, or other humus-poor soils, peat improves their water holding capacity and serves as a source of organic matter. Peat is one of the most important sources of humus. Dried Sphagnum is used as a garden mulch which helps to retain high soil acidity,
The common economic uses of peats are the following :- Peat is used as a fuel. Peat can be used for the manufacture of paper, fabrics, artificial wood, etc. Peat is used for the production of acetic acid, methyl alcohol, carbonic acid, paraffin, etc. Sphagnum and peat have a great role in horticulture. They are used for improving the texture and the water-holding capacity of the soil, as a substratum or seedbed for seed germination, and also as a packing for grafting scions. Role in experimental botany :- Bryophytes are important as research tools in the fields of genetics, experimental morphology and physiology. The mechanism of sex determination in plants was discovered for the first time in the liverwort Sphaerocarpos.
Use as packing material :- Many dried mosses (e.g. Sphagnum ) are used as fairly good packing materials for packing fragile articles, such as glassware, bulbs, seedlings, plant cuttings etc. Uses as absorbent bandages :- Some mosses (e.g. Sphagnum ) have antiseptic and absorptive properties. So, they can be used as absorbent bandages in hospitals, in place of cotton. Sphagnum Sphaerocarpos Barbula
