- Pteridophyte is the plants have Feather-like leaves.
- Word Pteridophyta was given by Haeckel
- Study of Pteridophyta called pteridology
- The word Pteridophyte is derived from two words ‘Pteron’ meaning feather and ‘phyton’ meaning plant.
- Pteridophytes are terrestrial plants belongs to the Cryptogams Knowns as vascular cryptogams.
- They are the first evolved plants with vascular system (xylem and Phloem) so they are called as Vascular Cryptogams.
- Xylem do not contain vessels and phloem do not contain companion cells. Exception Pteridium, Selaginella, Marsilea contain virtual vessels.
- Pteridophytes occupy the intermediate position between Bryophytes and Phanerogams seed-bearing plants.
- The Vascular bundle is a concentric, amphicribal, mesarch and closed type.
- Plant body of Pteridophyte differentiated in the root, stem, leaves so its body called Cormophyte.
- Pteridophyte does not show secondary growth because cambium is absent. Exception Isoetes shows secondary growth.
- Pteridophytes knows as Reptiles of Plant Kingdom
- The division Pteridophyta includes primitive living and fossil vascular plants.
- They were originated in the Silurian period and flourished in the Devonian period.
- Pteridophytes show much variation in form, size, and habitat.
- Most Pteridophytes are annual, terrestrial and herbaceous plants that are Psilotum, Selaginella Lycopodium some are large perennial Trees like Angiopteris, Alsophila few are aquatic Pteridophytes – Azolla, Marsilea, Isoetes, Salvinia Xerophytes Pteridophytes (Resurrection plant) – Selaginella lepidophylla Halophytes Pteridophyte (Example- Acrostichum)
- Pteridophytes show alternation of generation between sporophyte and gametophyte.
- Smallest pteridophyte is Azolla and largest is Alsophia
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