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| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| General Characteristics of Pteridophyta | |
| Common Name | Pteridophytes |
| Groups Included | Horsetails and ferns |
| Uses | Medicinal purposes, soil-binders, ornamental plants |
| Evolutionary Significance | First terrestrial plants to possess vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) |
| Habitat | Cool, damp, shady places; some in sandy-soil conditions |
| Dominant Phase | Sporophyte (differentiated into true root, stem, and leaves) |
| Leaves | Small (microphylls) as in Selaginella or large (macrophylls) as in ferns |
| Sporophylls | Leaf-like appendages that bear sporangia; can form strobili or cones (Selaginella, Equisetum) |
| Spores | Produced by meiosis in spore mother cells; germinate to form gametophytes |
| Gametophyte | Inconspicuous, small, multicellular, free-living, mostly photosynthetic thalloid (prothallus); require cool, damp, shady places |
| Gametophyte Organs | Antheridia (male), archegonia (female) |
| Water Requirement | Needed for fertilization; male gametes (antherozoids) transfer to archegonium |
| Fertilization | Fusion of male gamete with egg in archegonium forms zygote; zygote develops into sporophyte |
| Spore Types | Homosporous (similar spores), Heterosporous (macro and micro spores) |
| Heterospory | Selaginella and Salvinia produce two types of spores: macrospores (female gametophytes) and microspores (male gametophytes) |
| Zygote Development | Occurs within female gametophytes; precursor to seed habit, significant in evolution |
| Classification |
Psilopsida – Psilotum Lycopsida – Selaginella, Lycopodium Sphenopsida – Equisetum Pteropsida – Dryopteris, Pteris, Adiantum |
