Seedless Vascular Seedless Vascular PlantsPlants

Plants with a vascular system Plants with a vascular system

but no seedsbut no seeds

Seedless Vascular PlantsSeedless Vascular Plants

Phylum PterophytaPhylum Pterophyta Phylum LycophytaPhylum Lycophyta Phylum SphenophytaPhylum Sphenophyta Phylum PsilophytaPhylum Psilophyta

Phylum PterophytaPhylum PterophytaFernsFerns

11,000 species11,000 species habitat = wetlands, habitat = wetlands,

especially in tropicsespecially in tropics dominant generation is dominant generation is

the the sporophytesporophyte plant plant

Phylum PterophytaPhylum PterophytaFernsFerns

StructuresStructures vascular systemvascular system =xylem and phloem =xylem and phloem tracheidstracheids (water conducting cells) (water conducting cells)

reinforced therefore can grow reinforced therefore can grow taller taller than than non-vascular plantsnon-vascular plants

roots, stems (roots, stems (rhizomesrhizomes) ) leaves (leaves (frondsfronds)) fiddleheads= coiled baby frondsfiddleheads= coiled baby fronds

Phylum PterophytaPhylum PterophytaFernsFerns

ReproductionReproduction Alternation of generationsAlternation of generations Dependent on water for sperm to swim to eggDependent on water for sperm to swim to egg use use sporesspores to reproduce to reproduce reproductive spores in reproductive spores in sporangiasporangia, on , on

undersides of frondsundersides of fronds Clusters of sporangia = Clusters of sporangia = sorisori (singular = sorus) (singular = sorus)

Fern Life CycleFern Life Cycle

gametophytesgametophytes are are small, flat and small, flat and independent independent (bearded heart)(bearded heart)

gametophytegametophyte dies as dies as sporophytesporophyte

growsgrows

gametophyte

sporophyte

Fern ReproductionFern Reproduction

sporangium

fiddlehead

frond underside with sori

Phylum PterophytaPhylum PterophytaFernsFerns

Examples:Examples: leather leafleather leaf MaidenhairMaidenhair

Boston fern

leatherleaf

maidenhair

Phylum PterophytaPhylum PterophytaFernsFerns

Phylum PterophytaPhylum PterophytaFernsFerns

Phylum LycophytaPhylum LycophytaClub mossesClub mosses

have vascular tissue have vascular tissue roots, stems and leavesroots, stems and leaves leafy green stems leafy green stems

branch from branch from underground underground rhizomerhizome

(stem)(stem)

Phylum LycophytaPhylum LycophytaClub mossesClub mosses

HabitatHabitat wetlandswetlands

ExampleExample : : LycophytaLycophytaDominant generationDominant generation

sporophytesporophyte★★Ancient species Ancient species (now extinct) very (now extinct) very successful during successful during dinosaur daysdinosaur days

Phylum LycophytaPhylum LycophytaClub mossesClub mosses

                   

LepidodendronLepidodendron   was a giant was a giant tree-like club moss. It towered tree-like club moss. It towered to 45 m in height and flourished to 45 m in height and flourished in the swamp forests of the in the swamp forests of the Carboniferous.Carboniferous.  

Phylum LycophytaPhylum LycophytaClub mossesClub mosses

ReproductionReproduction alternation of alternation of

generationsgenerations use spores (no use spores (no

seeds)seeds) spores develop in spores develop in

sporangiasporangia on on specialized leaves of specialized leaves of sporophyte in sporophyte in conescones

(clubs)(clubs)Club moss reproductive structures

Phylum SphenophytaPhylum SphenophytaHorsetails / snakegrassHorsetails / snakegrass have vascular tissue = have vascular tissue =

roots (rhizomes),roots (rhizomes),

leaves, jointed stemsleaves, jointed stems seedlessseedless habitathabitat = wetlands = wetlands

especially common especially common

along along

stream banks stream banks

Phylum SphenophytaPhylum SphenophytaHorsetails / snakegrassHorsetails / snakegrass

alternation of generationsalternation of generations sporesspores form in form in

cones at tips of stemscones at tips of stems

Phylum SphenophytaPhylum SphenophytaHorsetails / snakegrassHorsetails / snakegrass

Example = Example = EquisetumEquisetum

Phylum SphenophytaPhylum SphenophytaHorsetails / snakegrassHorsetails / snakegrass

Dominant generationDominant generation= =

sporophytesporophyte

UseUse

During Colonial & Frontier During Colonial & Frontier

times, used to scour, or times, used to scour, or

scrub, pots and pans.  scrub, pots and pans. 

Nature”s own Brillo Pad. Nature”s own Brillo Pad. 

Phylum PsilophytaPhylum PsilophytaWhisk fernsWhisk ferns

•seedless•habitat= wetlands•most closely resemble earliest vascular plants•vascular tissue= have branched stems and roots (no leaves)

Phylum PsilophytaPhylum PsilophytaWhisk fernsWhisk ferns

Interesting factInteresting factamong the among the earliest known earliest known vascular vascular plants found in plants found in fossil record, fossil record, and are the and are the simplest living simplest living vascular vascular plants plants

Cooksonia

Phylum PsilophytaPhylum PsilophytaWhisk fernsWhisk ferns

Reproduction spores form in sporangia at

tips of short branches

Use Hawaiians often collect the spores and use them as talcum powder

Phylum PsilophytaPhylum PsilophytaWhisk fernsWhisk ferns

ExampleExample:: PsilotumPsilotum