Fern Allies

General features of the vascular plants

Common name

Ferns and fern allies

Synonyms

Pteridophytes (with exclusion of Lycophyta)

Sporophyte growth habit

Stems; usually leaves and roots

Gametophyte growth habit

Exosporic or endosporic thalli

Stele

Siphonostele or sometimes protostele

Undulipodia (“flagella”)

Whiplash (2 to 20)

Sexual reproduction

Homosporous (some Pterophyta are heterosporous)

Included Phyla

Psilotophyta, Pterophyta, Sphenophyta

jcclark@csupomona.edu
© 2002 by Curtis Clark