Which group among bryophytes is most closely related to lycophytes? A. Hornworts B. Liverworts C. Mosses A B C

. Hornworts<br /><br />Hornworts share several key characteristics with lycophytes (and other vascular plants) that liverworts and mosses do not. These similarities suggest a closer evolutionary relationship. Some of these shared traits include:<br /><br />* **Stomata:** Hornworts and vascular plants like lycophytes have stomata, pores that regulate gas exchange. Liverworts have pores, but they are not actively regulated like stomata. Mosses have stomata, but their development and structure differ from those in hornworts and vascular plants.<br />* **Sporophyte characteristics:** The hornwort sporophyte is more complex and long-lived than those of mosses and liverworts. It also has a basal meristem, allowing for continuous growth, a feature shared with vascular plants. Additionally, some hornwort sporophytes contain photosynthetic tissue, reducing their reliance on the gametophyte, another trait similar to vascular plants. These similarities in sporophyte structure point to a closer relationship between hornworts and vascular plants like lycophytes.<br />