Fern

Ferns are a group of about 10,560 known extant species of vascular plants that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They differ from mosses by being vascular, i.e., having specialized tissues that conduct water and nutrients and in having life cycles in which the sporophyte is the dominant phase.

Classification

Ferns are members of a group of vascular plants (plants with xylem and phloem) that reproduce via spores and have neither seeds nor flowers. They belong to the division Pteridophyta, also known as Filicophyta. The group includes about 10,560 known extant species.

Anatomy

Ferns are vascular plants differing from lycophytes by having true leaves (megaphylls), which are often pinnate. They differ from seed plants (gymnosperms and angiosperms) in their mode of reproduction—lacking flowers and seeds.

Reproduction

Like all land plants, ferns have a life cycle referred to as alternation of generations, characterized by alternating diploid sporophytic and haploid gametophytic phases. The diploid sporophyte has 2n paired chromosomes, where n varies from species to species.

Ecology

Ferns are not of major economic importance, but some are used for food, medicine, as biofertilizer, as ornamental plants and for remediating contaminated soil. They have been the subject of research for their ability to remove some chemical pollutants from the atmosphere.

See also

• Pteridophyta
• Mosses
• Lycophytes
• Seed plants

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