Algae are a large group of generally aquatic plants. Like bryophytes, algae are nonvascular: They lack the xylem and phloem tissues that transport fluids and nutrients internally. They do not have leaves, roots or flowers, nor do they have rhizoids or leaflike structures like some nonvascular plants.

What are rhizoids in algae?

Rhizoids are protuberances that extend from the lower epidermal cells of bryophytes and algae. They are similar in structure and function to the root hairs of vascular land plants. Similar structures are formed by some fungi. Rhizoids may be unicellular or multicellular.

Which plants contain rhizoids?

Rhizoids develop on the gametophytes of some land plants (liverworts, mosses, hornworts, lycophytes and monilophytes). Root hairs are found only on the roots of the sporophytes of vascular plants. The lycophytes and monilophytes develop both rhizoids on their gametophytes and root hairs on their sporophytes.