Final answer:
Moss plants are anchored by thread-like rhizoids, which are not true roots but multicellular structures that attach to substrates. These rhizoids, made up of simple conductive cells, help mosses to absorb water and nutrients directly and support them in colonizing various habitats.
Step-by-step explanation:
What Holds Moss Plants in Place?
Moss plants are held in place by thread-like rhizoids, which are multicellular structures that anchor the moss to a substrate such as soil, rock, or tree bark. These rhizoids resemble roots and emerge from the base of the moss gametophyte, but unlike true roots, they are not the main route for absorbing water and nutrients. Instead, mosses absorb water and nutrients directly through their leaflike structures, which are part of the gametophyte phase of the life cycle and conduct these essentials up the centralized stalk, which contains a primitive conductive system.
The threads that hold mosses in place, the rhizoids, are made up of simple conductive cells. Because mosses lack a true vascular system, these rhizoids and the conductive cells do not transport substances as efficiently as the vascular tissues in higher plants do. Nonetheless, mosses are capable of colonizing harsh habitats, in part due to their ability to rehydrate after drying out and absorb moisture directly without the need for an extensive root system.