Bryophytes are nonvascular plants like mosses and liverworts that thrive in wet environments with abundant rainfall. They lack true roots and water conducting tissues, instead using rhizoids to anchor themselves and absorb water. Bryophytes also lack protective coverings, so they can only live in constantly wet places. They are characterized by having a dominant gametophyte stage in their life cycle where the sporophyte is parasitic on the gametophyte.