Liverworts typically have a flattened, leafy appearance, often resembling small, green, ribbon-like structures or leafy mats on the ground. Mosses, on the other hand, have upright, bushy growth forms with small, leaf-like structures that are arranged spirally around a central stem. Hornworts are characterized by their elongated, horn-like sporophytes that emerge from a flat thallus, giving them a distinctive look compared to liverworts and mosses. Overall, liverworts are flatter and broader, mosses are more upright, and hornworts have a unique horn-like structure.