The cells in vascular and nonvascular plants are both able to get water, but nonvascular plants have different methods than vascular plant. How do these differences affect the height of the plants?
The differences in how vascular and nonvascular plants obtain water directly affect their height. Vascular plants have specific tissues, such as xylem and phloem, which efficiently transport water and nutrients throughout their bodies. This enables them to grow taller and have more complex structures, including roots, stems, and leaves.
On the other hand, nonvascular plants lack these specialized tissues, and must rely on alternative means to obtain water. Mosses, liverworts, and hornworts, for example, typically absorb water directly through their leaves and stems from the environment. They lack a true root system, limiting their ability to take in water from the soil.
Due to this difference in water uptake mechanisms, nonvascular plants tend to have a much lower maximum height than vascular plants. They are generally shorter and have a more prostrate growth habit, spreading horizontally across surfaces rather than growing vertically. Nonvascular plants also lack the structural support provided by the specialized tissues found in vascular plants, further restricting their height.
In summary, the different methods of water acquisition in vascular and nonvascular plants significantly impact the height and overall growth potential of the plants. Vascular plants with specialized tissues for water transport can grow taller, while nonvascular plants without these tissues remain low-growing and have limited vertical growth.