General Principles of Biology: Pteridophytes

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the characteristics, classification, life cycle, and economic importance of Pteridophytes based on BIO 121 lecture notes.

Pteridophytes

Vascular seedless plants, or 'non-flowering plants having xylem and phloem', also known as 'vascular cryptogams'.

Pterophyta

The phylum of true ferns, which are small land plants characterized by graceful, delicate compound leaves.

Lycophyta

The phylum containing club mosses, spike mosses, and quill worts.

475 mya

The approximate geological time for the origin of land plants.

420 mya

The approximate geological time for the origin of vascular plants.

360 mya

The approximate geological time for the origin of seed plants.

Pteron

The Greek word meaning 'feather', part of the origin for the term Pteridophytes.

Polypodiopsida

The Taxonomic Class belonging to the phylum Pterophyta.

Polypodiidae

The most species-rich group of leptosporangiate ferns within the taxonomic classification of pterophytes.

Adventitious roots

The type of roots generally found in pteridophytes, occurring because the primary embryonic root is short-lived.

Heteromorphic

A term describing a life cycle where the two generations (gametophyte and sporophyte) look different from each other.

Sporophyte

The dominant phase in the life cycle of pteridophytes; it is diploid ($2n$) and produces haploid spores via meiosis.

Gametophyte

The haploid ($n$) phase of the life cycle that produces motile male gametes (sperms) and non-motile female gametes (eggs).

Antheridia

The structures on the gametophyte that produce male gametes (sperms).

Archegonia

The structures on the gametophyte that produce female gametes (eggs).

Heterosporous

The condition of producing different types of spores, found in some pteridophytes but absent in all bryophytes.

Circinate ptyxis

Also called chroziers, these consist of the young leaf tips of some ferns used as vegetables.

Lycopodium

A genus of pteridophytes whose spores are used in pharmacy as protective dusting powder for tender skin.

Pteridium aquilinum

A pteridophyte used as a herbicide/biological control agent because it can rapidly invade forest lands and eliminate other plants.

Azolla

A free-floating water fern used as a biofertiliser.