describe the characteristics of the division pteridophyta
Answers
Pteridophyta Characteristics
Pteridophytes are the first true land plants: It is speculated that life began in the oceans, and through millions of years of evolution, life slowly adapted on to dry land. And among the first of the plants to truly live on land were the Pteridophytes.
They are seedless, vascular cryptogams:
Pteridophytes are seedless and they procreate through spores. They don’t have conducting tissues for transportation of water and minerals. Instead, the water and minerals flow from the surface of the plant- cell to cell in the plant’s body. This is also one of the reasons why these plants need a constantly moist environment to survive.
They show true alternation of generations: The sporophyte generation and the gametophyte generation are observed in Pteridophytes.
Sporophyte has true roots, stem and leaves.
Spores developed in sporangia are homosporous or heterosporous: Sporangium are the structures in which spores are formed. They are usually homosporous (meaning: one type of spore is produced) and are also heterosporous, (meaning: two kinds of spores are produced.)
Sporangia are produced in groups on sporophylls: Leaves that bear the sporangia are termed as sporophylls.
Young leaves of sporophyte show circinate vernation: The tip of the leaves tend to curl inwards to protect the vulnerable growing parts.
Sex organs multicellular and jacketed: The male sex organs are called antheridia while the female sex organs are called archegonia.