Question

The first plants to appear after forest fires are the ferns; this is because of the survival of their
A. Spores
B. Leave
C. Fronds
D. Rhizome
E. Both A & B

Answer 1

Hint: Pteridophytes constitute the large living group of primitive vascular plants with over 10,000 species. The main independent plant body of pteridophytes is the sporophyte.
It is differentiated into true roots, true stem, and true leaves. The primary root is short-lived.
It is replaced by adventitious roots. The root has a permanent growing apex.

Complete answer: Ferns are widely distributed all over the world in warm moist and shady places. The main plant body of ferns is sporophyte which is differentiated into the underground stem
(commonly called a rhizome, roots, and aerial shoots with leaves).
Rhizoids are root-like structures (not true roots) that consist of single greatly elongated cells, water and mineral salts are absorbed over the whole structure.
Rhizoids anchor the prothallus to the soil. They remain intact inside the soil even after a forest fire.

So, the correct answer is “Option D”.

Additional Information: The leaves may be simple or compound.
They are usually large and macrophyllus. They arise alternately on the upper side of the rhizome.
1. Ferns are homosporous ( eg. Pteridium, Dryopteris, etc. ) or heterosporous (eg. marsilea). The fertile leaves, bearing sori, are called sporophylls. The sori are usually borne on the underside of the leaflets and protected by indusia.
2. Each mature sporangium has a long stalk and a globular body (or capsule).
3. The body of sporangium has an annulus consisting of a band of thickened cells that help in the dispersal of spores. The spores germinate to produce gametophyte, called prothallus.
4. The prothalli bear antheridia and archegonia with the help of water. They enter into the archegonia and only one antherozoid fuses with the egg.
5. Fertilization results in the formation of a zygote which starts developing into a young sporophyte.
The first leaf appears above the prothallus and the roots grow into the soil.

Note: Many ferns are grown as ornamental plants in gardens for their large, showy and graceful foliage. Adiantum (commonly called walking fern because it propagates vegetatively by its leaf tips. Adiantum is also called maidenhair fern due to its beautiful arranged black shining petioles of compound leaves). Azolla is a water fern.