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Biochemistry
Introduction to Biochemistry
Water and Mineral Salts
Carbohydrates
Lipids
Proteins
Enzymes
Nucleic Acids
Cell Biology
Cell Organization
Membranes
Cytoskeleton and Cell Movement
Cellular Digestion and Secretion
Cell Nucleus
Cell Division
Photosynthesis
Cellular Respiration
Protein Synthesis
Microbiology
Bacteria
Protists
Fungi
Virus
Zoology
Introduction to Taxonomy
Poriferans
Cnidarians
Platyhelminthes
Nematodes
Annelids
Molluscs
Arthropods
Echinoderms
Chordates
Fishes
Amphibians
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals
Physiology
General Histology
Blood
Metabolism and Nutrition
Digestion
Respiration
Circulation
Excretion
Skin and Coverings
Musculoskeletal System
Nervous System
Vision
Hearing and Balance
Endocrine System
Immune System
Gametogenesis
Reproduction
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View chapter-related images
pteridophytes ferns maidenhairs selaginellas vascular plants Carboniferous forests
fern parts prothallus pteridophyte life cycle xaxim
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What are the main representatives of the pteridophytes? Is this plant group cryptogamic or fanerogamic?
The better known pteridophytes are the ferns and the maidenhairs, from the filicinae (filicopsida) group, and the selaginellas, mosslike plants from the lycopodineae group (lycopsida). Pteridophytes are cryptogamic plants, i.e., they are flowerless and seedless.
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How different are pteridophytes from bryophytes regarding substance transport?
Pteridophytes are tracheophyte (vascular) plants, i.e., they have tissues specialized in conduction of water and nutrients. Bryophytes are nonvascular plants. In pteridophytes therefore the substance transport is done through vessels and in bryophytes that transport occurs by diffusion.
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Why do pteridophytes are better adapted to dry land than bryophytes? Were pteridophytes always less abundant than phanerogamic plants?
Although bryophytes and pteridophytes have water-dependant gametes for fecundation the emergence of conductive vessels in this last group facilitated the life on terrestrial environment. The conductive vessels of the pteridophytes collect water from the moist soil and distribute it to the cells. Bryophytes do not have such option and they depend entirely on the water that reaches the aerial part of the plant and so they need to live in humid or rainy places.
Before the ascension of the phanerogamic (plants that present seeds) the pteridophytes were the plants that predominated on the terrestrial environment. The large pteridophyte forests of the Carboniferous period (named after the pteridophytes) are responsible for the formation of coal deposits, mainly in Europe, Asia and North America; the Carboniferous period is situated about 360 and 290 millions of years ago and it is part of the Paleozoic era.
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Embryology
General Embryology
Extraembryonic Membranes
Botany
Plant Classification and Life Cycles
Bryophytes
Pteridophytes
Gymnosperms
Angiosperms
Plant Tissues
Plant Physiology
Genetics
Fundamentals of Genetics
Mendel's Laws
Variations of Inheritance
Linkage and Crossing Over
Sex and Sex-Linked Inheritance
Blood Groups
Karyotype and Genetic Diseases
Genetic Distribution
Genetic Manipulation
Evolution
Hypothesis on the Origin of Life
Evolutionary Theory
Ecology
Notions on Ecology
Earth Biomes
Energy and Matter in Ecosystems
Biogeochemical Cycles
Biodiversity
Ecological Interactions
Ecological Succession
Populations
Environmental Problems
Diseases
Notions on Parasitism
Bacterial Infections
Protozoan Infections
Fungal Infections
Viral Infections
AIDS
Worm Infections
Prion Diseases
Degenerative Diseases
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