PBB 212-

Bryology and
Pteridology
Dr. Abbot O. Oghenekaro

PhD (Forest Pathology)

23-01-2018
COURSE OUTLINE
Lecturer Topics
*Dr Abbot O. Origin of Bryophytes and Pteridophytes
Oghenekaro
Taxonomy and Phylogeny of Bryophytes and Pteridophytes

Morphology and Anatomy of Bryophytes and Pteridophytes

Ecology of Bryophytes and Pteridophytes

Reproduction in Bryophytes and Pteridophytes

Mr. O. O Tropical Bryophtes and Pteridophytes

Osazuwa
Life cycle of selected groups

Economic importance of Bryophytes and Pteridophytes

 PRACTICALS

To be decided
later...........................
 Bryophytes (Bryon – moss, Phyton – Plant)
 Grow predominantly in amphibious habitats, hence the name
“amphibians of the plant kingdom”

 Presence of conspicuous, green and well developed nutritionally

independent gametophytes

 Sporophytes are attached physically to the gametophytes and depend on

the gametophytes for nutrients
 Bryophytes

Riccia fluitans - aquatic

 Bryophytes

Sphagnum Moss (Peat moss) – wet and soft grounds

Sphagnum – holds 20 times its own weight in water

 Bryophytes

Polytrichum – survive under xeric conditions

 EVOLUTIONARY HISTORY
----------------Bryophytes-------------- Pteridophytes
Origin of Bryophytes and Pteridophytes
 Origin of Bryophytes
Scarcity of fossil records

Morphology
Analogy
Ontogeny
 Origin of Bryophytes
Two theories

 Pteridophytean hypothesis –
Bryophytes are descendents of
pteridophytes

 Algal hypothesis – Bryophytes have

arisen from algae
 Origin of Bryophytes
Pteridophytean hypothesis
 Similarities between the
sporangia of members of
psilophytes (pteridophytes)
and bryophytes

 Root-less, leafless and

dichotomously branched
sporophytes

 Progressive reduction

Anthoceros agrestis
(Bryophyte) Oldest pteridophyte
 Origin of Bryophytes
Algal hypothesis – widely accepted
 Presence of ciliated spermatozoids and
necessity of water for fertilization

 Presence of chloroplast

 Nature of reserve food material (starch)

 Composition of cell wall is Cellulose and

pectates
 Evolution in Bryophytes

First theory – Up-Grade or Progressive

Theory

-Evolution of bryophytes
begins with simple forms and
terminates with complex
forms
 Evolution in Bryophytes
Second theory – Down-grade or
Regressive (Retrogressive) Theory

-Primitive bryophytes had erect leafy

shoot with radial symmetry, like Moss

-More simpler forms were derived from

the moss like ancestors
 Evolution in Bryophytes
Second theory – Down-grade or Regressive (Retrogressive) Theory
Thallus
 Evolution in Bryophytes
Second theory – Down-grade or Regressive (Retrogressive) Theory
Structure of air-chambers, assimilatory filaments and pores in
Marchantiales
 Pteridophytes (Vascular seed-less plants)

 It is generally agreed by plant morphologists that Both

bryophytes and Pteridophytes evolved from green
algae

 The transition from water to land must have involved

features that enabled them to;

1. Obtain water from the substratum,

2. Transport the water to all their living cells and
3. Conserve water against the drying effects of the air

The major difference between bryophytes and vascular

plants - occurrence of water and conducting tissues
 Pteridophytes (Vascular seed-less plants)

Lycopodium sp (Club moss)

 Pteridophytes (Vascular seed-less plants)

Selaginella lepidophylla-adapted to xeric conditions

 Pteridophytes (Vascular seed-less plants)

Marsilea hirsute -aquatic

 Origin of Pteridophytes

 Evolutionary migration from sea to land

 Development of Pteridophytes with

vascular system is one of the most
important steps in the evolution of the
plant kingdom
 Origin of Pteridophytes
Two theories

 The Pteridophytes originated directly

from algae

 The Pteridophytes originated from

the bryophytes
 Origin of Pteridophytes
Theory of algal origin of Pteridophytes

 Land plants as a group possess

chlorophylls a and b and accumulate
starch

 Sexual reproduction is oogamous,

that is, the egg is always non-motile
 Origin of Pteridophytes
Theories of bryophyte origin of Pteridophytes

Similar features in bryophytes

and pteridophytes
(Gametophytes, sex-organs)