rhizoids
long, thin strands of cells that attach the plant to the soil
Rhizoids are single-celled and long, thin filaments that grow from the base of some nonvascular plants, like mosses and liverworts. They function similarly to roots in vascular plants, providing anchorage and absorbing water and nutrients from the soil. However, rhizoids, unlike roots, do not have specialized tissues or vascular structures that can conduct water and minerals throughout the plant, as they are nonvascular plants. Instead, they directly absorb water and nutrients through the cell walls of their thin filaments.
Rhizoids are also different from the roots of vascular plants in their mode of growth. While the roots of vascular plants grow from the shoot downwards, the rhizoids grow from the protonema or the base of the nonvascular plant upwards, penetrating the soil and anchoring the plant in it. Some rhizoids are branched and have root hairs that increase the surface area for absorption of nutrients from the soil.
Overall, rhizoids are an essential adaptation for nonvascular plants, providing the necessary stability and nutrition for their growth and survival.
More Answers:
Fungal Classification: An In-Depth Look at the Three Major Groups Based on Their Reproductive StructuresFungal Hyphae: The Building Blocks of Nutrient Absorption and Colonization
The Fascinating World of Fungi: Importance, Role, and Diversity in Science and Nature