Plant Biology: Bryophytes and Ferns

Spores

________ occur in clusters on the underside of fern fronds known as sori.

Sorus

A cluster of spores on a fern frond

Prothalli

In ferns, spores are released and grow into gametophytes called ______

true xylem, phloem, or roots

No bryophytes have ________.

Bryophytes

________ are pioneer species that colonize bare rock, accumulate minerals and organic matter used by other organisms, and retain moisture, reducing flooding and erosion.

protonema

The ________ in a bryophyte is an immature gametophyte consisting of short filaments.

Phylum Bryophya

________ contains peat mosses and true mosses.

sexual reproduction

Water is incredible important to bryophytes, as it is needed for ________.

gametophyte

In mosses the leafy plant is a major part of the ________ generation.

Coiled

Fronds first appear _______ before unrolling and expanding.

Waxy cuticle

Plant surfaces have ________ to prevent water loss.

young sporophytes

In ferns when zygotes develop into ________, the gametophyte (or a portion of it) dies, leaving the sporophyte growing independently.

internal conducting tissues, true leaves, absorption, smaller

During the early stages of vascular plant evolution __________ developed, ________ appeared, roots that function in both anchorage and _______ developed, and gametophytes became progressively _________.

Peat mosses

________ are the most important bryophyte for humans, as they are used in soil to absorb excess water and they store carbon.

sporophyte

In ferns, the ________ is the conspicuous phase.

Chlorophylls a and b, cellulose in the cell wall, and starch as food reserves.

Plants and green algae both have this.

Fiddlehead

The coiled crozier that a frond first appears as