How are ferns different from mosses?

Ferns and mosses are distinct groups of plants with fundamental differences in their anatomy and life cycles.

Vascular Tissue

The most significant difference is that ferns are vascular plants, meaning they possess specialized xylem and phloem tissues for conducting water and nutrients. Because of this, ferns have true roots, stems, and leaves. In contrast, mosses are nonvascular plants (bryophytes) that lack these complex tissues and do not have true roots, stems, or leaves.123

Life Cycle and Dominant Generation

Both groups exhibit an alternation of generations, but the dominant phase differs:
* Ferns: The large, conspicuous plant body is the sporophyte (the asexual phase).12
* Mosses: The long-lived, conspicuous, and photosynthetic generation is the gametophyte (the sexual phase).32

In ferns, the gametophyte is typically a small, ephemeral structure called a prothallus, whereas in mosses, the sporophyte is dependent on the gametophyte for nutrients and water. Both groups rely on water for fertilization because they produce motile, flagellated sperm.34512