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Why are mosses no longer grouped with liverworts and hornworts in one division?
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Bryophyte
Bryophyte moss growing on oak trees.
Mosses, liverworts, and hornworts were traditionally grouped together in the division Bryophyta. However, this classification has been revised due to molecular evidence indicating that these groups have distinct evolutionary histories.12
As a result of this taxonomic revision:
* Mosses now represent the division Bryophyta.1
* Liverworts are placed in the division Marchantiophyta.1
* Hornworts are placed in the division Anthocerotophyta.12
While they are no longer grouped in a single division, the term bryophyte remains in informal use to collectively refer to these simple terrestrial plants.13