Features of Pteridophytes

Features of pteridophytes are a common discussion point in Biology. Pteridophytes resemble their ancestors in many ways. Pteridophytes, unlike many other species in the plant world, reproduce by spores rather than seeds.For thousands of billions of decades prior to the flowering plant species, the planet was teeming with plants which looked like these ferns. Pteridophytes share many of their forebears’ traits. Pteridophytes, among many major plants, do not develop via seed, instead they reproduce by generating seeds.

This article will explain the salient features of pteridophytes, its classification, life cycle and provide examples to understand the topic well.

An overview of Pteridophytes

For thousands of billions of decades prior to the flowering plant species, the planet was teeming with plants which looked like these ferns. Pteridophytes share many of their forebears’ traits. Pteridophytes, among many major plants, do not develop via seed, instead they reproduce by generating seeds.

Pteridophyta is one of the plant kingdom’s earliest plant groupings. They evolved before angiosperms. These were among the earliest “real” plants to adjust to the Earth’s conditions. The following are the primary characteristics of pteridophytes:

• Plants with no seeds and vascular roots that reveal real ancestry
• The sporophyte possesses actual roots, stalks, and leaves.
• They reproduce by the development of seeds within sporangia.
• They can be both homosporous and heterosporous.

Features of Pteridophytes

The main phase of the plant is sporophyte (2n). It has been divided into three parts: the root, the stem, and the leaves.

• Roots are sporadic
• Branching in the stem is monopodial as well as dichotomous
• Microphyllous as well as megaphyllous leaves are possible
• Stele is indeed a protostele, however siphonostele can be found in certain forms (Marsilea)
• Tracheids are by far the most common water conducting components, however, vessels may also be seen in Selaginella.
• Sporangia, spore-bearing just bag-like formations, are carried on sporophyll leaves. Sporophylls group together to create cones called strobili. Examples include Selaginella and Equisetum.
• They can be homosporous (create just one kind of spore-Lycopodium) or heterosporous (generate two kinds of spores-Lycopodium, generate two kinds of spores-Selaginella). Seed behaviour has been caused by heterospory.
• The formation of sporangia can be eusporangiate (the formation of this sporangium from such a grouping of beginnings) or leptosporangiate (development of sporangium from single initial).
• Mother cells of spores go through meiosis and create spores (n).
• Spores flourish to generate prothallus, which are haploid, multicellular greenish, and cordate-shaped autonomous gametophytes.
• Vegetative reproduction is aided by fragmentation, rested buds, base tubers, as well as adventitious buds.
• Oogamous sexual development occurs. The prothallus produces sex organs such as antheridium as well as archegonium.
• Antheridium generates spiral patterned coiled antherozoids as well as multiflagellate antherozoids.
• Archegonium appears flask-shaped, having a large ventral opening as well as a long, thin neck. Each venter contains an egg or perhaps an ovum, whereas the neck contains neck tract cells.
• Water is required for fertilisation. After fertilisation, one diploid zygote has been created, which then divides mitotically to become an embryo.
• Apogamy as well as apospory is observed in Pteridophytes.

Classification of Pteridophytes

Pteridophyta is classified into four major groups:

Psilopsida:

• They are unique
• The photosynthetic stalk has been dichotomously segmented
• The rhizoids are real
• These leaves are not particularly thick
• A sporophyte is indeed the homosporous synangium
• Psilotum as well as tmesipteris are two examples of this classification 

Lycopsida

• They are most often recognized as clubbing moss
• Roots, stalks, rhinophores, and leaves form a separate plant body
• The sporophyte can be either homosporous as well as heterosporous
• Selaginella and Lycopodium are two examples of this classification 

Sphenopsida

• Horsetail is another name for this classification
• It is a unique plant body having subterranean rhizome roots, a stalk, and spiny leaves
• Sporangia have been homosporous and borne by strobila
• Equisetum is an example of this classification

Pteropsida

• A fern is a common name for this plant
• It is a unique plant body that consists of roots, stems, and leaves
• The sporophyte can be either homosporous as well as heterosporous
• Antherozoids are multiflagellate living things
• Pteris, Dryopteris, and Adiantum are other examples of this classification

Life Cycle of Pteridophytes

Pteridophytes undergo generational transition. Their life span seems to be identical to those of seed-bearing shrubs, however, unlike mosses as well as seed plants, pteridophytes have separate yet free living stages of haploid gametophyte as well as diploid sporophyte. This pteridophytic gametophyte’s sex is characterised as follows:

Dioecious

Every gametophyte is either male or female, generating antheridia plus sperm, and perhaps archegonia plus egg cells.

Monoecious

Every gametophyte has the ability to create both antheridia, as well as archegonia, and also to operate as both male and female.

Protandrous

Archegonia ripens before antheridia.

Protogynous

Archegonia develops prior to antheridia.

Examples of Pteridophyta

The following are examples of pteridophyta:

• Dicksonia

• Selaginella

• • Whisk Fern

• Equisetum

• Pteris

• Lycopodium

• Dryopteris

• • Silver fern

• Adiantum

• Man fern

Conclusion

Pteridophytes undergo generational transition. Their life span seems to be identical to those of seed-bearing shrubs, however, unlike mosses as well as seed plants, pteridophytes have separate yet free living stages of haploid gametophyte as well as diploid sporophyte.This article covers the features of pteridophytes and other significant issues relating to the topic including the classification of pteridophytes into four major groups:

• Psilopsida
• Lycopsida
• Sphenopsida
• Pteropsida