The document summarizes the characteristics and life cycles of nonvascular and seedless vascular plants. It describes two divisions of plants - nonvascular plants like moss that lack roots, stems, and leaves, and vascular plants that have transport tissues. Moss and liverworts are examples of nonvascular plants that reproduce via alternation of generations between sporophyte and gametophyte stages. Ferns are an example of seedless vascular plants that have true stems, roots, and leaves called fronds. Their life cycle also involves alternation between sporophyte and gametophyte stages. Ferns and other seedless plants were important in forming peat bogs and peat, which was used as fuel.

1. Plant Divisions

2. Characteristics of Plants
1. Nonvascular Plants – do not have
roots, stems or leaves
a. NO Vascular tissue!
1. Vascular Plants – contain vascular
tissue that transport food and water
through the plant

3. A. nonvascular and
seedless plants
1. Simple root less plants
2. Nonvascular
3. Seedless
4. Leaf like structures
5. rhizoids – root like structures
6. Examples: moss and liverworts (the
bryophytes!)

5. Importance of mosses:
1. They are called the pioneer
species – grow in new areas
a. Are the first plants to grow back
after a forest fire and volcanic
eruptions
b. They break down rocks and put
nutrients into the earth so other
plants can grow.

6. Moss life cycle – alternation of
generations
1. Sporophyte produce spores by meisosis
in the capsule.
2. The spore capsule releases spores that
produce gametophytes in the soil.
3. Gametophyte makes both sperm and
egg
4. Sperm fertilize the egg = zygote
5. Zygote divides by mitosis and creates a
sporophyte

8. B. seedless vascular
plants
1. Vascular tissue to transport materials
2. No seeds, still have spores
3. Bigger and thicker than moss
4. Examples: horsetails and ferns

9. Ferns
1. Ferns have a true
stems, roots, and
leaves
2. Leaf part called a
“FROND”
3. Produce spores
4. Biggest group of
seedless vascular
plants

10. Life cycle of ferns – alternation of
generations
1. Spore forms a Gametophyte called a prothallius.
2. Prothallius forms gametes (sperm and egg)
3. Sperm is released and swim to female reproductive structures =
fertilization
4. Zygote forms a new sporophyte by mitosis
5. Sporophyte (fern) produces spores by meioisis

11. Spores

12. Importance of Ferns
1. Peat bogs – spongy, wet ground that is
composed mainly of dead plants who
can’t decay because of lack of oxygen
a. Preserved animals and plants
1. Peat – used a fuel

13. QUESTIONS
1. The rootlike filaments that hold moss plants
in place are called ___________.
2. The continual cycle that alternates between
the sporophyte and gametophyte of the
moss plant is called ___________.
3. Horse tails and ferns are considered to be
__________ vascular plants.
4. The leaf of a fern is called a ___________.