S EEDLESS V ASCULAR P LANTS
Ferns, Club Mosses, Whisk Ferns, Horsetails

G ENERAL C HARACTERISTICS
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Phylum: Tracheophyta
“true” land plants
Evolved ways of freeing themselves from dependence on wet environments
True roots and leaves, cuticle, vascular tissue

C
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Vascular tissue: transport water and products of photosynthesis
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XYLEM – movement of water from roots to shoots
Tracheid cell - carry water from roots to leaves
PHLOEM – transports nutrients and products of photosynthesis throughout the plant
Veins: area in leaves that contain one or more bundles of vascular tissue
Cuticles: protective, waxy coating on the leaves, prevents water loss through evaporation

F ERNS : C HARACTERISTICS
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Well developed tracheophytes
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True vascular tissue
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 strong roots creeping or underground stems
(rhizomes) large leaves (fronds)
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Habitat: abundant in wet environments

F ERNS (F ILICINAE )
Gametophyte
Sporangium of Sporophyte

L
IFE
C
YCLE OF
F
ERNS

L IFE C YCLE OF F ERNS
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If spore lands on damp soil, it germinates
Grows into a flat heart shaped structure called the prothallus (gametophyte). The prothallus lies flat on the ground and produces male and female reproductive organs on its underside
Female reproductive organ (archegonium) produces an egg cell

L IFE C YCLE OF F ERNS …..
4. Male reproductive organ (antheridia) produces sperm
5. Sperm cells swim to the egg through a film of water. The resulting zygote divides and re-divides
6. This eventually forms a small sporophyte fern plant that grows parasitically on the prothallus

L IFE C YCLE OF F ERNS …..
7. The small fern plant produces an underground stem called rhizome which produces miniature leaves called fiddleheads when they push above ground
8. Little dots or umbrellas (sori) form on the underside of fronds (large leaves) and contain several sporangia
9. Spores are released into the wind from sporangium

L IFE C YCLE A NIMATION http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZ40LDWt678&feature=related

H ORSETAILS (S PHENOPHYTA )

W HISK F ERNS (P SILOPHYTA )

C LUB M OSSES (L YCOPHYTA )

P G 44 #1-3