Click photos to enlarge. All photos CC BY-NC Amanda Heinrich.

	Liverworts	Mosses	Hornworts
Species Worldwide	7,000	16,000-20,000	200
Species in California	130	650	8
Species in Santa Barbara County	23	130	5
Gametophyte Morphology
Sporophyte Morphology	Liverwort sporophytes: transient, with spherical capsules on flimsy stalk; split open along lines of dehiscence	Moss sporophytes: sturdy, persistent, typically with complex opening	Hornwort sporophytes: horn-shaped; split open like banana
Costa (midrib on leaf)	No costa on leaves	Costa present on leaves of most species	No costa
Elaters (spring-like cells, which aid in spore dispersal)	Elaters typically present	No elaters	Pseudoelaters (non-functional)
Rhizoids (attach plant to substratum)	Unicellular rhizoids	Multicellular rhizoids	Unicellular rhizoids
Chloroplasts	Many small chloroplasts per cell	Many small chloroplasts per cell	One or two giant chloroplasts per cell
Oil bodies	Many liverworts contain oil bodies; shape, number and size may aid in species identification	No oil bodies	No oil bodies