Chapter 21, Problem 1RQ

Summary Introduction

To write:

The basic features of ferns and their relative plants which differ them from other organisms or plants so far.

Introduction:

Pteridophytes are the vascular plants. They bear leaves (which are known as fronds), roots and sometimes the true stems. The tree ferns have the full trunks. For example, ferns, horsetails, and club-mosses. The Pteridophytes are having ferns and fern allies. The fern allies are a broad group of seedless vascular plants which are not true ferns.

Explanation of Solution

The difference between pteridophytes and other plants is explained as follows:

Ferns are exceptional among the land plants. These have two different living structures in their reproductive cycle (the gametophyte and the sporophyte). When sporangia release these spores, then they land in a favorable environment. They can grow into a small plant which is known as the gametophyte. Whereas, in the flowering plants, other vascular plants, and conifers, the adult plant grows directly from the seeds. The ferns usually reproduce from the spores with an intermediate plant stage (gametophyte).

Conclusion

Thus, the basic difference between the pteridophytes and other plants (like flowering plants, other vascular plants, conifers) is that ferns have gametophyte and sporophyte which is absent in the later.