Seedless Vascular Plants Plants with a vascular system but no seeds
Seedless Vascular Plants Phylum Pterophyta Phylum Lycophyta Phylum Sphenophyta Phylum Psilophyta
Phylum Pterophyta Ferns 11,000 species habitat = wetlands, especially in tropics dominant generation is the sporophyte plant
Phylum Pterophyta Ferns Structures vascular system =xylem and phloem tracheids (water conducting cells) reinforced therefore can grow taller than non-vascular plants roots, stems (rhizomes) leaves (fronds) fiddleheads= coiled baby fronds
Phylum Pterophyta Ferns Reproduction Alternation of generations Dependent on water for sperm to swim to egg use spores to reproduce reproductive spores in sporangia, on undersides of fronds Clusters of sporangia = sori (singular = sorus)
Fern Life Cycle gametophytes are small, flat and independent (bearded heart) gametophyte dies as sporophyte grows gametophyte sporophyte
Fern Reproduction frond underside with sori sporangium fiddlehead
Phylum Pterophyta Ferns Examples: leather leaf Maidenhair leatherleaf Boston fern maidenhair
Phylum Pterophyta Ferns
Phylum Pterophyta Ferns
Phylum Lycophyta Club mosses have vascular tissue roots, stems and leaves leafy green stems branch from underground rhizome (stem)
Phylum Lycophyta Club mosses Habitat wetlands Example : Lycophyta Dominant generation sporophyte ★Ancient species (now extinct) very successful during dinosaur days
Phylum Lycophyta Club mosses Lepidodendron was a giant tree-like club moss. It towered to 45 m in height and flourished in the swamp forests of the Carboniferous.
Phylum Lycophyta Club mosses Reproduction alternation of generations use spores (no seeds) spores develop in sporangia on specialized leaves of sporophyte in cones (clubs) Club moss reproductive structures
Phylum Sphenophyta Horsetails / snakegrass have vascular tissue = roots (rhizomes), leaves, jointed stems seedless habitat = wetlands especially common along stream banks
Phylum Sphenophyta Horsetails / snakegrass alternation of generations spores form in cones at tips of stems
Phylum Sphenophyta Horsetails / snakegrass Example = Equisetum
Phylum Sphenophyta Horsetails / snakegrass Dominant generation= sporophyte Use During Colonial & Frontier times, used to scour, or scrub, pots and pans. Nature”s own Brillo Pad.
Phylum Psilophyta Whisk ferns seedless habitat= wetlands most closely resemble earliest vascular plants vascular tissue= have branched stems and roots (no leaves)
Phylum Psilophyta Whisk ferns Interesting fact among the earliest known vascular plants found in fossil record, and are the simplest living vascular plants Cooksonia
Phylum Psilophyta Whisk ferns Reproduction spores form in sporangia at tips of short branches Use Hawaiians often collect the spores and use them as talcum powder
Phylum Psilophyta Whisk ferns Example: Psilotum