Phylum Tracheophyta

Ferns, Gymnosperms, & Angiosperms

KINGDOM PLANTAEKINGDOM PLANTAEVascular PlantsVascular Plants

Phylum Phylum TracheophytaTracheophyta

Non-Vascular PlantsNon-Vascular Plants

Terrestrial:Terrestrial:

BryophytesBryophytes

Aquatic: Aquatic:

AlgaeAlgaePhyla:

Bryophyta

Hepatophyta

Antherocerophyta

Phyla:

Chlorophyta

Rhodophyta

Phaeophyta

SeedsSeeds No SeedsNo Seeds

FernsFernsSub Phylum:Lycophyta (club & spike moss) Sphenophyta (equisitem) Pterophyta (ferns) Psilophyta (whisk ferns)

Phylum TracheophytaEx: Ferns, gymnosperms, &

angiosperms

• Vascular plants – have vascular tissue called xylem & phloem

• True terrestrial plants

Ferns• Well developed vascular

system therefore, TRUE roots, stems and leaves

• Dominant generation is the sporophyte

• Gametophyte is small and independent of sporophyte

• Needs wet environment – water so sperm can swim to egg

Ferns continued:• Reproduction:

– Sexual – spores dispersed by wind and water– Asexual – rhizomeFiddlehead = young sporophyte = uncurling frond

The Pteridophytes (fern family) probably evolved from an algae around the same time as the bryophytes were evolving.

RHYNIARHYNIA:

400 million years ago

The 1st vascular plant.

4 Subphyla

• Lycophyta – Club Mosses• Sphenophyta – Horsetails• Psilophyta – Whisk ferns• Pterophyta - Ferns

Subphylum Lycophyta - Club Moss• Commonly called ground

pines• Bushy, tree like branches

above, but unbranched at the base

• Have deep growing root like rhizomes

• Live in moist woods and clearings

• Small leaves with single unbranched vein

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Club Moss Spores• Genus Lycopodium is

homosporous (makes one type of spore)

• Contains chemicals that explode and burn quickly

• Yellowish powdery spores used in fireworks and explosives.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAfT2Uktx4c

Lycopodium Powder Fireball:

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Other Uses for Club Moss

• Sometimes boiled in water to produce a medicinal tea or an eye wash

• Ground pines, green all winter, are used in Christmas decorations

• Ancestors of modern club misses helped form coal during the carboniferous period

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Reproductive structure

Subphylum Sphenophyta – Horsetails

• Only one living species (Equisteum)• Also called scouring rushes• Hollow, jointed stems contained

silica and were once used to scrub pots

• Photosynthetic aerial stem• Underground rhizomes• In prehistoric times, grew as tall as trees

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Vegetative structure – looks like horsetail

Uses for Horsetails

• Used to fight plant fungi• Used in some mouthwashes to cure mouth

ulcers• Used as diuretics to eliminate excess water

(weight loss products)• Toxic to animals (sheep, cattle, horses)

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Subphylum Psilophyta – Whisk Ferns

• Look like a small, green, twiggy bush• Have TRUE stems, but no leaves or roots• Only two living genera• Rhizomes to anchor (can’t absorb water)• Reproduce asexually from rhizomes or sexually via

spores produced in Sporangia

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Subphylum Pterophyta - Ferns• Largest group of

extant (living) vascular plants

• Wide range of habitats (terrestrial, aquatic, arboreal tree ferns, epiphytic)

• Can asexually reproduce by rhizomes

Subphylum Pterophyta - Ferns• Dominant

Sporophyte stage has true roots, stems and leaves

• Roots and stems underground

• Leaves called fronds found above ground and attached to a stem like petiole

Pterophyta (Fern) Life Cycle• Newly forming sporophyte fronds called

fiddleheads must uncurl• Spore cases called sori are found on the

underside of the fronds• Wind spreads spores that land on moist soil

and germinate into a prothallus

FERN FIDDLEHEADFERN FIDDLEHEAD

((‘‘babybaby’’ sporophyte) sporophyte)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XruTNNabUe0&feature=related

FERN FERN PROTHALLUSPROTHALLUS

(gametophyte) (gametophyte)

eggs

sperm

FERN FERN PROTHALLUS PROTHALLUS

with with SPOROPHYTESPOROPHYTE

Ferns

• The prothallus starts the gameophyte stage

• Gametophyte is heart shaped and short lived

• Male antheridia and female archegonia grow on the gametophyte

• Sperm swims to egg to fertilize

Fern Sporophyte

HOW DO WE USE FERNS?HOW DO WE USE FERNS?

Trim the base of your ferns, leaving only a tiny tail beyond the circumference of each Fiddlehead. Rub off any remaining furry brown covering. Rinse under running water. Drop ferns into a large pot of boiling salted water. Boil for about 5 minutes or until tender. If undercooked, you will miss the full, rich flavor. Drain well and serve piping hot with melted butter.

Uses for Ferns

• Help prevent erosion• Fiddleheads are eaten as food• Ornamental plants for yards and homes• Helped form coal deposits millions or years

ago

FERN FERN FRONDS FRONDS

WITH SORI WITH SORI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xF83pHEx6Q

SORI SORI RELEASE RELEASE SPORESSPORES

ECOLOGICAL ROLE OF FERNSECOLOGICAL ROLE OF FERNS• Pioneer species: first to establish themselves in areas with poor soil (little nutrients)

• Once the ferns are established, they improve living conditions for other species

1. Put nutrients back into the soil

2. Help prevent erosion

Ultimately, they set the stage for their own demise, as other plants and Ultimately, they set the stage for their own demise, as other plants and trees will come in a take over.trees will come in a take over.

Questions: Moss vs FernsPlease answer the following questions and include in your notes:1.Look at the life cycle of moss and ferns.

a) Compare the spore-containing structures of both plants.b) Which stage is dominant in mosses? Ferns?c) Compare the events that occur just after the spores are released

in mosses and ferns.d) Compare the way in which the sperm and egg join in mosses

and ferns.e) Compare the gametophyte and sporophyte of mosses and ferns.

2.Why are spores important for life on land?

Answers: Moss vs Fernsa) Ferns have a cluster of sporangia whereas moss have single

sporangium.b) Dominant stage in moss is the gametophyte whereas it is the

sporophyte in ferns.c) Spores are dispersed by wind or water and germinate into a

gametophyte.d) Moss and ferns need to utilize water so sperm can swim to join

egg.e) In moss, the gametophyte is dominant (not the sporophyte) and in

ferns the sporophyte is dominant (not the gametophyte).2. Spores are important for life on land because they allow for dispersal of plants, protect baby plants from drying out until conditions are good for it to grow.