Vascular Plants Without Seeds
Characteristics of Vascular Plants Without Seeds
Eukaryotic
Multi-celled (with cell walls composed of cellulose)
Autotrophic
Do have xylem and phloem
Do not produce seeds
Do not produce flowers or fruits
The Groups of Vascular Plants Without Seeds
Fern allies
Whisk Ferns โ Psilotum
Club Mosses/Ground Pines โ Lycopodium
Spike Mosses - Sellaginella
Horsetails/Scouring Rushes โ Equisetum
Quillworts - Isoetes
Ferns
What it Means to be Vascular
There are two types of vascular tissue
Xylem, which is involved with the transport of water and dissolved minerals
Phloem, which is involved with the transport of organic food molecules, usually in the
form of sucrose
Vascular plants are capable of living in dryer areas because they can absorb water from the
soil via the root system and transport it throughout the plant via the xylem
Vascular plants can grow larger than nonvascular plants because water, minerals, and
organic food molecules can be transported throughout the plant via xylem and phloem, and
wastes can be transported away from cells
