key characteristics of seedless vascular plants (5)

- true leaves - do not produce seeds - has xylem & phloem - has roots for anchor & absorption - has stomata for rapid gaseous exchange & water control

key characteristics of Pteridophyta (5)

- leaves are branching veins with leaf gaps called fronds - well developed cuticle & stomata - well developed xylem & phloem - perennial plants (new growth every year)

vascular tissue arrangement in ferns

sexual life cycle of Polypodium vulgare

1. archegonium & atheridium fertilize 2. embryo forms 3. leaf of young sporophyte sprouts from gametophyte 4. matures & sorus undergo meisosis 5. spore dispersal

compare & contrast key characteristics of bryophytes & seedless vascular plants

seedless vascular has cuticles, complex stomata, vascular tissue and lignin. bryophytes do not.

describe fern life cycle

heteromorphic alternation of generation - sporophyte is dominate phase - gametophyte phase

describe rachis of Dryopteris

pinnae (leaf blades) are attached to rachis (midrib) dryopteris has dictyostele tissue. dissected into regions called meristeles with leaf gaps