Question

Define pteridophyta.

Answer 1

Hint:-There are five main groups of the plant kingdom. Pteridophyta is one of them. The classification criteria for plantae kingdom is based on the plant body , vascular system and the seed formation.

Complete Answer:-As we know from the above hint that the division pteridophyta is under kingdom plantae, so the features it posses are that they are non motile, produce their own food through photosynthesis, and vacuole in the cells and multicellular organism.
They have a well-differentiated plant body. It is differentiated into root, stem and leaves. They have a vascular system for transport of water and other substances. Some of the common examples of pteridophyta are Selaginella , Equisetum, Pteris, etc.
Some of the characteristics of Pteridophytes are:
1.Pteridophytes are regarded as the first plants to be evolved on land
2. They are cryptogams, vascular (lacks xylem vessels and phloem companion cells) and seedless
3. The plant body is well differential and has true roots, stem and leaves
4. Spores are developed in sporangia
5. Sporangia are produced by sporophylls (usually produces a group of sporangia)
6. Sex organs are also multicellular. The male sex organ is termed as antheridium, while the female sex organ is known as archegonium.
7. Pteridophytes show true alternation of generations.

Note:- Pteridophytes are classified into four main classes. The classes are Psilopsida (examples: Psilotum and Tmesipteris), lycopsida (examples: Selaginella and Lycopodium), Sphenopsida (examples: Equisetum) and Pteropsida (examples: Pteris and Dryopteris).
Pteridophytes are vascular and reproduce through the spore formation. But they do not produce seeds or flowers and hence are called cryptograms