Seedless Vascular Plants

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms and concepts related to seedless vascular plants, their structures, functions, and evolutionary significance.

Seedless Vascular Plants

Plants that reproduce via spores and lack seeds, including phyla Lycophyta and Monilophyta.

Vascular Tissue

Specialized tissue in vascular plants for conducting water and nutrients, consisting of xylem and phloem.

Xylem

The vascular tissue that conducts water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant.

Phloem

The vascular tissue responsible for transporting nutrients and organic products during photosynthesis.

Gametophyte

The haploid stage of the life cycle in plants that produces gametes.

Sporophyte

The diploid phase in the plant life cycle that produces spores; it is the dominant phase in vascular plants.

Microphylls

Leaves with a single vein, thought to have evolved from outgrowths of stems.

Megaphylls

Complex leaves with a highly branched vascular system, believed to have evolved from webbing between branches.

Homosporous

Producing one type of spore that typically develops into a bisexual gametophyte.

Heterosporous

Producing two types of spores: megaspores (female gametophytes) and microspores (male gametophytes).

Sori

Clusters of sporangia found on the undersides of sporophylls in ferns.

Strobili

Cone-like structures formed from groups of sporophylls, typically found in some vascular plants.

Phylum Lycophyta

A group of seedless vascular plants that includes club mosses, spike mosses, and quillworts.

Phylum Monilophyta

A group of seedless vascular plants that includes ferns and horsetails.

Carboniferous Period

A geological period during which the ancestors of modern lycophytes and ferns grew to great heights and formed the first forests.

Sporopollenin

A durable polymer found in the walls of spores that helps protect them from environmental stresses.