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Difficulty: MediumThallophytes, Bryophytes, and Pteridophytes

An autotrophic plant possesses lignified vascular tissues and a prominent sporophyte generation, yet relies on environmental moisture for flagellated sperm to reach the archegonium. Which plant division is characterized by these features?

  1. A
    Bryophytes
  2. PteridophytesAnswer
  3. C
    Thallophytes
  4. D
    Spermatophytes

Answer

Pteridophytes
Pteridophytes (such as ferns and horsetails) are the earliest group of vascular plants with a dominant sporophyte phase. Although they have developed true xylem and phloem for internal conduction, they retain the primitive reproductive requirement of needing free water so that motile sperm can swim to fertilize the egg in the archegonium.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze anatomical characteristics provided in the stem
The presence of lignified vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) and a dominant sporophyte rules out non-vascular divisions.
Thallophytes and bryophytes lack true vascular transport structures.
2
Evaluate the reproductive constraint regarding fertilization
The dependence on environmental water for swimming flagellated sperm identifies the group as seedless vascular plants.
Spermatophytes transfer male gametes via wind or pollinators using pollen tubes without needing a film of water.

Key Concept

Structural traits and reproductive dependencies of Pteridophytes
Estimated Time:50s
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Topics

Thallophytes, Bryophytes, and Pteridophytes

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