05_03 & 04 Plants: Bryophytes and Ferns

Alternation of Generations

the sporic life cycle; the life cycle seen in terrestrial plants in which generations alternate between a diploid (sporophyte) and haploid (gametophyte) organism

Sporophyte

the diploid organism of those species that follow the sporic life cycle; produces spores

Gametophyte

the haploid organism of those species that follow the sporic life cycle; produces gametes

Archegonia

the egg containing structure in some groups of terrestrial plants

Antheridia

the sperm containing structure in some groups of terrestrial plants

Biofuel

a fuel used by humans derived from a living matter

Fossil Fuel

a fuel used by humans derived from the remains of vegetation from the Carboniferous period that has been transformed by geological processes

Carboniferous Period

"Age of Ferns and Mosses"; period in the history of the Earth about 360 to 300 million years ago, when the landscape was dominated by an abundance of plant life