Question

A researcher investigates a recently discovered species of plant. The plant has vascular tissues and exhibits a sporophyte and a gametophyte generation, but lacks seeds. How should the researcher classify the plant?

Answer 1

The plants that lack seeds, have vascular system and alternating generations i.e. sporophyte and gametophyte generations, are classified into phylum tracheophyta. In these plants, the dominant generation is sporophyte that is diploid while the gametophyte generation is haploid, inconspicuous but independent.  These plants depend upon water for fertilization where sperms are shed that travel to egg by swimming. Members of this phylum include club and spike mosses, ferns and horsetails.