SBT 102(V4)

PTERIDOPHYTA (FERN, LYCOPHITES)

Introduction
⎯ Before the flowering plants, the landscape was dominated with plants that looked
like ferns for hundreds of millions of years.
⎯ Pteridophytes show many characteristics of their ancestors.
⎯ Unlike most other members of the Plant Kingdom, pteridophytes don’t reproduce
through seeds, they reproduce through spores instead.
⎯ The word Pteridophyta has 2 Greek concepts. Pteron means =“feather” and Phyton=
means plants.
⎯ The plants of this group have feather like fronds (ferns).
⎯ The group of pteridophyta included into Cryptogams with algae, fungi and
Bryophytes.
⎯ The algae, fungi and bryophytes are called lower cryptogames while the
Pteidophytes are called higher cryptogams.
⎯ Pteridophytes also called Vascular cryptogames, because only pteridophytes have
well developed conducting system among cryptogams.
⎯ Pteridophytes are distinguished from other spore-producing plants, bryophytes,
by their vascular tissue.
⎯ Due to this reason they are the first true land plants.
⎯ All cryptogams reproduce by means of spores and do not produce seeds.
⎯ The Peridophytes are assemblage of flowerless, seedless, spore bearing vascular
plants, that have successfully invaded the land.
⎯ Their lack of seeds also distinguishes them from other vascular plants, such
as gymnosperms and angiosperms.
⎯ Examples, , such ferns, horsetails, clubmoss, and spikemoss.
major characteristics of Pteridophytes.
⎯ 1. Pteridophytes are considered as the first plants to be evolved on land:
⎯ It is speculated that life began in the oceans, and through millions of years of
evolution, life slowly adapted on to dry land. And among the first of the plants to
truly live on land were the Pteridophytes.
⎯ 2. They are cryptogams, seedless and vascular:
⎯ Pteridophytes are seedless, and they reproduce through spores. They contain
vascular tissues but lack xylem vessels and phloem companion cells.
⎯ 3. The plant body has true roots, stem and leaves:
⎯ They have well-differentiated plant body into root, stem and leaves.

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⎯ 4. Spores develop in sporangia:

⎯ The sporangium is the structures in which spores are formed. They are usually
homosporous (meaning: one type of spore is produced) and are also
heterosporous, (meaning: two kinds of spores are produced.)
⎯ 5. Sporangia are produced in groups on sporophylls:
⎯ Leaves that bear the sporangia are termed as sporophylls. The tip of the leaves
tends to curl inwards to protect the vulnerable growing parts.
⎯ 6. Sex organs are multicellular:
⎯ The male sex organs are called antheridia, while the female sex organs are called
archegonia.
⎯ 7. They show true alternation of generations:
⎯ The sporophyte generation and the gametophyte generation are observed in
Pteridophytes. The diploid sporophyte is the main plant body,
⎯ 8.Habitat- They mainly thrive in moist and shady places. Some also grow in sandy
soils.

Classification of pteridophytes:
Pteridophytes are classified into four main classes:

1. Psilopsida
2. Lycopsida
3. Sphenopsida
4. Pteropsida

1. Class: Psilopsida /Psilotopsida

⎯ These are the most primitive pteridophytes.
⎯ They contain rhizoids with no leaves.
⎯ The sporophyte of these plants is homosporous (produce spores of one kind)
⎯ The spores generated from the homosporous plants develop into a bisexual
gametophyte which produces both male and female gametes.

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e.g Psilotum

Characteristic Features of Class Psilopsida

⎯ The plant body is a rootless sporophyte that differentiates into a subterranean
rhizome and an aerial erect shoot.
⎯ Branching is dichotomous in both rhizome and aerial shoot.
⎯ Rhizoids are present ,absorb water and nutrients from the soil.
⎯ On the aerial shoots, spirally arranged scale-like or leaf-like appendages are borne.
⎯ Secondary growth is absent.
⎯ sporangia are borne in the axils of leaf-like appendages.
⎯ Spores are of equal sizes and shapes i.e., homosporous.
⎯ They are the most primitive.
⎯ The stem is photosynthetic and dichotomously branched.
⎯ Leaves are mostly absent.
⎯ Examples- Psilotum and Tmesipteris.

2. Class. Lycopsida:

⎯ This class has a long evolutionary history and is represented both by extant and
extinct genera.
⎯ These plants are commonly known as club moss.
⎯ They have a well-differentiated plant body with adventitious root, stem,
rhizophores and leaves.

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⎯ Their sporophyte is either homosporous or heterosporous.

Example: Selaginella and Lycopodium

Selaginella Lycopodium

Salient Features of the Class Lycopsida:

i. The sporophyte plant body is Well-differentiated plant body with adventitious root,
stem, rhizophores and leaves.
ii. The sporophytes are dichotomously branched.
iii. The leaves are usually small and micro- phyllous.
iv. Sporangia are borne singly on the (upper) surface of the sporophylls.
v. The spores may be either one type i.e., homosporous (e.g., Lycopodium) or two
types i.e., heterosporous (e.g., Selaginella).
vi. The spores develop into independent gametophyte.

Examples- Selaginella, Lycopodium.

3. Class: Sphenopsida:
⎯ They are commonly known as horsetails.
⎯ These plants have a well-differentiated plant body with roots arising from nodes
of the underground rhizome, stem and scaly leaves.
⎯ They are homosporous.
⎯ This class is represented by only one living genus Equisetum

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Salient Features of the Class Sphenopsida:

1. The stems and branches are jointed with nodes and internodes. The internodes are
with longitudinal-oriented ridges and furrows.
2. The leaves are extremely reduced and borne in whorls at the nodes of,aerial
branches and stems.
3. Branches arise in whorls.
4. The sporangia develop on a peltale appendage called sporangiophore. Sporangial
walls are thick.
5. Most of the” members are homosporous including Equisetum. However, some
extinct forms were heterosporous (e.g., Catamites

4. Pteropsida:

⎯ They are commonly known as ferns.

⎯ They have a well-differentiated plant body which has roots, stem and leaves.
⎯ Their sporophyte is both homosporous and heterosporous.
⎯ Antherozoids are multiflagellate.
Important Features of Pteropsida

• The most prominent members of this class are ferns.

• There are more than 9000 species in this group, and it is the largest group of
Pteridophytes.
• These plants are highly evolved than other Pteridophytes.
• Members of this class are found in all kinds of habitats; terrestrial, damp and
shady places, even in water and some are epiphytes too.
• The plant body is differentiated into well-defined roots, stem and leaves. The
leaves are arranged spirally.

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• The rhizome is thick and short.

• The leaves are large in size (megaphylls). They are pinnately compound and are
called a frond.
• Young fronds are coiled.
• Except for aquatic ferns, others are all homosporous.
• Sporangia are located at the margins and tip of leaves on the ventral side of
leaves. These are present in clusters called sori.
• Some of the examples are Dryopteris and Pteris.

Examples- Pteris, Dryopteris, Adiantum

Difference between Homosporous and Heterosporous Pteridophytes

Homosporous pteridophytes Heterosporous pteridophytes

Produce spores which are of two different

Produce spores of a single type.
types.

These produce small microspores and

The spores are small.
large megaspores.

Microspores germinate into male

The spores germinate into
gametophytes and megaspore germinate
bisexual gametophytes.
into female gametophytes.

Majority of pteridophytes are Selaginella and Salvinia are heterosporous

homosporous. pteridophytes.

Life Cycle of Pteridophyta

⎯ Pteridophyta exhibits generational alternation.
⎯ Pteridophytes have a life cycle that is similar to that of seed-bearing plants;
however, unlike mosses and seed plants, they have distinct and free-living
generations of haploid gametophyte and diploid sporophyte.
⎯ The following is a summary of a Pteridophyta (fern) life cycle:
• Since they are flowerless and seedless, Pteridophyta reproduces by spores.
• At first, spores are released into the atmosphere.
• Spores develop into haploid gametophytes with both male and female sex
organs in the shape of a heart.
• As soon as the immature gametophyte grows, the sex organs become active.

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• In ferns, the male reproductive organ (antheridium) produces sperm, while the
female reproductive organ (archegonium) produces eggs.
Habitat
⎯ Pteridophytes are first land vascular plants so, they are mostly terrestrial in nature,
grow in cool and shady places.
⎯ Some pteridophytes are inhabit in xerophytic, semi-aquatic and aquatic condition.
Ecological and Economic Importance of Pteridophytes
 ecological roles of pteridophytes
• Pteridium species are ecological indicators of burnt and disturbed forest.
• Equisetum arvense and E.plebjum are indicators of gold in soil. And Aspernium
adulternum is a natural indicator of nickel. Actinopteris australis is an
indicator of cobalt.
• Pteridophyte create and habitat for small organisms like millipods,
arthropods, their larvae and bacteria, cyanobacteria.
• Provides shelter for eggs of frogs and fishes.
• Prevents soil erosion and slow degradation of the gametophytic plant will
prevent soil from excessive leaching.
• Pteris vittata is an excellent arsenic hyper accumulator, hence reducing
contamination hence is used to purify water in area with high arsenic
contamination.
 economic uses of pteridophytes
1. AS FOOD
• Sporocarp of marsilea are eaten by different tibal groups.
• The croziers of Matteuccia struthipteris are canned and served as spring veggie in
Canada and USA.
• Leaves of Marsilea, commonly known as ‘sushni’ is widely used as vegetable.
• Rhizome of pteris that is rich in starch is used as food.
• The young fronds of Ampelopteris polifera are sold in the markets as ‘Dhekhi
shaak’ in India and Bangladesh.
2) AS FODDER
• The corn of isoetes are used as food for pigs, ducks, and other animals.
• he quadrified lamina of Marsilea has been used as fodder for ducks.
• Dry fronds of many ferns are used as fodder for many animals.
• Azolla is widely used as fodder in various farms.
3). SCOURING
• Equisetum stems have been used in scouring and polishing metals.
• Hence Equisetum species are used for scouring.
4). BIOFERTILIZER

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• The relationship between alga and azolla is symbiotic where alga provide
nitrogen to plants. Thus, azolla in full bloom in the water provides fixed
nitrogen to surrounding plants too.
• Thus alga serves as green manure in water logged rice fields.
5). AS MEDICINE
• Spores of Lycopodium is used as protective dusting powder for tender skin.
Medicine from Lycopodium are used as stomachic and diuretic.
• An oil from Aspidium is used as a vermifuge especially for tapeworm.
• The decoction of Asplenium are used for cough and a good hair wash.
• The expectorant of polypodium is used as mild laxative while the tonic is used
for dyspepsia and hepatic problems.
• The chemically active principal ‘marsaline’ isolated from Marsilea is found to be
very effective against sedative and anti-canvulant principal.
• Preparation of Ophioglossum valgatum as green oil charityis also used for
wounds.
6) .HORTICULTURE
• Many species are cultivated for aesthetic value. Many variants
of Psilotum have been brought in cultivation in nurseries and with ‘whisk
fern’.
• Microsorium, Nephrolepis etc. have aesthetic value for their shape, leaves
several arrangement hence they are highly cultivated.
• Some lycopodium species are grown on hanging.
7). WEED AND DISEASE CONTROL
• Azolla is also used for weed control, insect and mosquito control.

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