Funaria is included in bryophytes because

Options

A. it is rootless
B. it is without vascular supply
C. its sporophyte is parasite and attached to gametophyte
D. it grows near water.

Answer

To determine why Funaria is included in bryophytes, we need to analyze the characteristics of Funaria and the defining features of bryophytes. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the reasoning:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Bryophytes**:
- Bryophytes are non-vascular plants that include mosses and liverworts. They are characterized by their life cycle, which includes two main phases: the gametophyte (haploid) and the sporophyte (diploid).

**Hint**: Remember that bryophytes are non-vascular and have a distinct life cycle with two phases.

2. **Identifying Funaria**:
- Funaria is a genus of moss, which is classified under bryophytes. It exhibits the typical features of mosses.

**Hint**: Funaria is a type of moss, which is a key indicator of its classification.

3. **Gametophyte Dominance**:
- In bryophytes, the gametophyte is the dominant phase, which is multicellular and photosynthetic. The sporophyte, in contrast, is dependent on the gametophyte for nutrition.

**Hint**: Focus on the relationship between the gametophyte and sporophyte in bryophytes.

4. **Sporophyte Characteristics**:
- The sporophyte of Funaria is not independent; it is attached to and derives nutrients from the gametophyte. This parasitic relationship is a defining characteristic of bryophytes.

**Hint**: The dependency of the sporophyte on the gametophyte is crucial for classifying Funaria as a bryophyte.

5. **Other Characteristics**:
- While Funaria is rootless and lacks vascular tissue, these features alone do not define its classification as a bryophyte. The key reason is the nature of its sporophyte.

**Hint**: Consider why the relationship between the sporophyte and gametophyte is more significant than other characteristics.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Funaria is included in bryophytes primarily because its sporophyte is parasitic and attached to the gametophyte, which is a hallmark of bryophyte structure and function.

**Hint**: The relationship between the sporophyte and gametophyte is the most critical factor in this classification.

### Final Answer:
Funaria is included in bryophytes because its sporophyte is parasitic and attached to the gametophyte.