The Paleontology of North America

Mosses, Liverworts, Hornworts from North America

What are Mosses, Liverworts, Hornworts? Traditionally grouped together as “Bryophytes,” mosses, liverworts and hornworts are quite distinct from one another, but all are very simple, non-vascular, spore-bearing plants that are attached to the soil by means of rhizoids, rather than roots. Hornworts first appear in the fossil record in the Cretaceous, mosses in the Carboniferous, and liverworts in the late Devonian. Members of all three groups can be found in moist environments around the world today.

First known fossil occurrence: Devonian.

Last known fossil occurrence: Quaternary. This group has living relatives.

Fossils through time:
Choose a time period to see what life was like:

Quaternary
Tertiary
Cretaceous
Jurassic
Triassic
Permian
Carboniferous
Devonian
Silurian
Ordovician
Cambrian
Precambrian