AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Ferns are considered the most advanced seedless vascular plants and display characteristics commonly observed in seed plants. Ferns form large leaves and branching roots. In contrast, whisk ferns, the psilophytes, lack both roots and leaves, which were probably lost by evolutionary reduction.

Detailed explanation-2: -In seedless vascular plants, such as ferns and horsetails, the plants reproduce using haploid, unicellular spores instead of seeds. The spores are very lightweight (unlike many seeds), which allows for their easy dispersion in the wind and for the plants to spread to new habitats.

Detailed explanation-3: -Ferns are seedless, vascular plants. They contain two types of vascular tissue that are needed to move substances throughout the plant.

Detailed explanation-4: -Ferns & Fern Allies Like forbs, grasses and trees, ferns are “vascular” plants. They have special tissues that transport fluids and nutrients internally. They also have true root systems, leaves and stems. However, ferns are unlike most plants because they do not produce flowers and seeds.

Detailed explanation-5: -There are four types of seedless vascular plants: club mosses, whisk ferns, true ferns, and horsetails. The life cycle of a seedless vascular plant begins when haploid spores are produced by the sori and released into the atmosphere. They germinate into a gametophyte called the prothallus.