Which phylum do mosses belong to?

Mosses belong to the phylum Bryophyta. This classification identifies them as non-vascular land plants that play a crucial role in various ecosystems. Bryophytes, which include mosses, liverworts, and hornworts, are characterized by their simple structures and reproduction through spores rather than seeds. They thrive in damp environments and are significant for their ability to retain moisture and contribute to soil formation.

The alternative classifications mentioned do not apply to mosses. Phylum Pteridophyta includes ferns and similar vascular plants, which have a more complex structure and reproduce via spores but are not mosses. Phylum Angiospermae consists of flowering plants that reproduce through seeds encased in fruits, a characteristic not present in mosses. Phylum Gymnospermae includes seed-producing plants that have unenclosed or "naked" seeds, such as conifers, which also do not resemble the reproductive methods of mosses. Thus, Bryophyta is unequivocally the correct phylum for mosses.