SEEDLESS

VASCULAR
PLANTS
• Seedless vascular plants are a group of plants that have
vascular systems and use spores to disperse their haploid
gametophyte stage.

• The early vascular plants, predating the gymnosperms and

angiosperms.

• They were the dominant species in ancient forests.

• The early vascular plants that contain a number of

adaptations that helped them survive life on land.
TYPES OF SEEDLESS VASCULAR PLANTS
• PHYLUM POLYPODIOPHYTA
- Ferns

• PHYLUM PSILOTOPHYTA
- Whisk Ferns

• PHYLUM EQUISETOPHYTA
- Horsetail

• PHYLUM LYCOPHYTA
- Club mosses
How did vascular plants evolve?
• About 420 millions years ago, plants for the first time
were able to grow high above the ground.

• They probably evolved from moss – like bryophyte

ancestors,
but they had a life cycle dominated by the diploid
sporophyte generation.

• The now - extinct Cooksonia rose just a few

centimeters
above the ground, with branching stems capped by
sporangia but without roots or leaves.

• Fossils of a plant with similar structure but different

patterns of branching, Psilophyton date back to the
Devonian period.
• Arose in the Carboniferous Period 420 – 360 mya
- Phylum Rhinophyta are known as the oldest seedless vascular plants

• These organisms left relics, fossils and coals

• Scientist believe that seed plants were present during this evolutionary time
period but were not dominant

• Became important as the swamps dried up and the global climate cooled
PHYLUM PTEROPHYTA
THE FERNS
• largest and most diverse
group of seedless
vascular plants

• Have xylem and phloem

tissues

• Most have true roots

• All have megaphylls

PHYLUM PTEROPHYTA
Whisk Ferns

• Simplest vascular plants.

• Lack true roots and leaves.

• Consists of dichotomously
branching rhizomes.

• Have erect stems.

• Homosphorous sporophylls.
PHYLUM PTEROPHYTA
HORSETAIL

• Sporophytes have roots

• Rhizomes

• Aerial stems
- hollow and jointed

• Leaves that are reduced

megaphylls
 PHYLUM LYCOPHYTA
CLUB MOSSES
• Small plants with rhizomes and short erect branches.

• Extant species have true roots and leaves that are microphylls.
Organization of a Vascular Plant Body
► A vascular plants have an outer covering of protective tissue and inner matrix of
vascular conductive tissue

► A vascular plant is organized along the vertical axis

Root : The part belowground
Shoot : The part belowground
Stem
Leaves
: Sites of photosynthesis
I. VASCULAR PLANTS THREE SYSTEM

► Root system
collective term for roots which anchor the plant and also absorb
water and minerals from the soil.

► Shoot system

made up of the stems and leaves together. Leaves are

specialized photosynthetic organ.

► Vascular tissue
conducts water and minerals to the leaves and the
photosynthetic products away from the leaves to the rest of the plant.
II. Tissue system

► Dermal tissue
makes up the outer protective coating of the plant.

► Vascular tissue
conducts water, dissolved minerals and carbohydrates

► Ground tissue
contains the vascular tissue
Ground tissue
► makes up the main the body of the plant
► contains several different cell types

Parenchyma cells
► least specialized and most common
► alive at maturity
► carry out the photosynthesis and storage
function
► have thin primary cell walls
Collenchyma cells
► alive at maturity
► Uneven primary cell walls
► Form strands and cylinders that provide
support

Sclenrenchyma cells
► Dead at maturity
► Thick secondary cell walls
► Provide strength and rigidity
► Fibers are along and slender
► Sclerieds are variable and branched
Dermal Tissue
► Epidermis of a plant is often covered with a thick waxy layer called the cuticle

Guard cells
► Paired cells with openings between them (stomata)
► Allow gas exchange

Trichomes
► Outgrowths of the epidermis, occurring
on shoot
► Variable in form
► Regulate heat and water balance
Root hairs
► Outgrowths of the epidermis, occurring on roots
► Increase the surface area for absorption
Vascular tissue
► Consists of xylem and phloem

Roots
Have a central column of xylem with radiating arms, alternating with strands of
primary phloem

Stems
► Main structural support for plant
► Framework for positioning the leaves

Leaves
► They are the major light capturing organs of most plant
► They ultimately forms the blade (flattened portion)
REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM