Seedless Vascular Plants Lecture Review

Flashcards covering key concepts of seedless vascular plants, including their features, differences and similarities with non-vascular plants, characteristics of lycophytes and ferns, and the life cycle of ferns.

What are the key features of vascular plants?

Vascular plants possess vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) for efficient transport of water and nutrients, and typically have true roots, stems, and leaves.

What is a primary difference between seedless vascular plants and non-vascular plants?

Seedless vascular plants have vascular tissue for transport, true roots, stems, and leaves, whereas non-vascular plants lack these features.

What is a similarity between seedless vascular plants and non-vascular plants?

Both seedless vascular plants and non-vascular plants require water for fertilization because their sperm are flagellated and must swim to the egg.

What are the distinguishing features of lycophytes?

Lycophytes are seedless vascular plants characterized by microphylls (small leaves with a single unbranched vein) and often produce spores in cone-like structures called strobili.

What are the main features of ferns?

Ferns are seedless vascular plants characterized by megaphylls (large, complex leaves called fronds) and produce spores in sporangia, often clustered into sori on the underside of their fronds.

How are male and female gametes formed in ferns?

In ferns, male gametes (sperm) are formed in antheridia, and female gametes (eggs) are formed in archegonia, both of which are located on the gametophyte.

How and where does fertilization occur in ferns, and where is the embryo formed?

In ferns, fertilization occurs when flagellated sperm swim through water to reach an egg inside an archegonium on the gametophyte. The resulting zygote develops into an embryo within the archegonium.

Describe the basic life cycle of ferns.

Ferns exhibit alternation of generations with a dominant diploid sporophyte that produces haploid spores. Spores develop into small, independent haploid gametophytes, which produce gametes. Fertilization forms a diploid zygote that grows into a new sporophyte.