Which plant features reduce their dependence on water but still require moist conditions? [Pg. No. 238]

Plants such as bryophytes show reduced dependence on water because they have a simple plant body with stem-like and leaf-like structures, rhizoids for attachment and absorption, and sometimes a thin cuticle. These features help them live on land and make them less dependent on water than algae. However, bryophytes lack true roots, true stems, true leaves and true vascular tissues like xylem and phloem, so water transport mainly occurs by diffusion and cell-to-cell movement. They still require moist conditions, especially for reproduction, because their male gametes need a thin film of water to swim and reach the female gamete. Hence, bryophytes are called the amphibians of the plant kingdom.