Question

A fern differs from a moss havIng-
A. Swimming archegonia
B. Swimming antherozoids
C. Independent gametophytes
D. Independent sporophytes

Answer 1

Hint: Mosses and ferns fall under bryophytes or pteridophytes. Bryophytes are plants that consist of three groups of nonvascular plants. Pteridophytes are non vascular plants that disperse spores.

Complete answer:
Bryophytes are the liverwort, hornwort and mosses. They are small in size and they prefer moist environments for their growth. Pteridophytes do not form seeds or flowers and they are also called cryptogams because their fertilisation is hidden. Ferns are pteridophytes whereas mosses are bryophytes. Ferns contain a dominant sporophyte whereas mosses contain a dominant gametophyte. By sporophyte dominant we mean that the sporophyte is larger and lives a longer time than the gametophytic generation. In gametophyte dominant plants, the gametophyte is longer lived than the sporophytic generation. By sporophyte we mean,that part of a plant that arises due to alternation of generation and produces asexual spores. However, the gametophyte is a multicellular haploid plant structure. This structure is derived from the spore and it forms haploid gametes later in its developmental stages.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: Ferns contain about 20,000 species of plants containing xylem and phloem(vascular plants).Ferns do not contain waxy layers over their leaves that prevents the water from evaporating from their surface. Mosses on the other hand evolved from algae and are capable of living on dry ground. They are capable of holding large amounts of water so that no runoff is produced. They thus prevent soil erosion.