AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Pteridophytes or Pteridophyta are vascular plants meaning that they contain vascular systems for the transport of water and food material. These vascular systems are xylem and phloem. They reproduce bt spores. They are flowerless and seedless plants and hence they are also called as vascular cryptogams.

Detailed explanation-2: -So, vascular cryptogams or seedless vascular plants belong to pteridophytes. Thus, the correct answer is option B. i.e., Pteridophytes. Note:A diploid sporophyte with a haploid gametophyte alternates the life-cycle of seedless vascular plants.

Detailed explanation-3: -Today, seedless vascular plants are represented by monilophytes and lycophytes. Ferns-the most common seedless vascular plants-are monilophytes. Whisk ferns (and their relatives) and horsetails are also monilophytes. Lycophytes include club mosses, spikemosses, and quillworts-none of which are true mosses.

Detailed explanation-4: -Pteridophytes are also called vascular cryptogams. Pteridophytes are types of plants without seeds or flowers. So it also goes by the name of cryptogams. Ferns and horsetails are among them. Since they exhibit vascular tissue, xylem, and phloem, they can actually be regarded as the earliest terrestrial vascular plants.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Pteridophytes are the most primitive vascular plants, having a simple reproductive system lacking flowers and seed. Pteridophytes evolved a system of xylem and phloem to transport fluids and thus achieved greater heights than was possible for their avascular ancestors.