Question

Seedless vascular plants are:

• A. Liverworts
• B. Mosses
• C. Ferns
• D. Cycads

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Ferns

The correct option is C:

Explanation of the correct option:

Vascular plants

1. Vascular plants, also known as tracheophytes, are plants that possess vascular tissues.
2. The vascular tissues, namely the xylem and phloem, help in the conduction of water, minerals, and food.
3. All plants except those that belong to the phylum Bryophyta fall in this group.
4. The bryophytes, which are the mosses and liverworts, are non-vascular lacking vascular tissues.

Seedless vascular plants

1. The vascular plants or the tracheophytes all produce seeds during their reproductive stage except those that belong to the phylum Pteridophyta.
2. The pteridophytes, which consist of ferns and horsetails, do not produce seeds.
3. Therefore they are seedless vascular plants.

Explanation of the incorrect option:

Option A:

Liverworts belong to the phylum Bryophyta and are avascular.

Option B:

Mosses also belong to the phylum Bryophyta and are avascular.

Option D:

Cycads belong to the division Gymnospermae which consists of seed-producing plants.

Final answer: The seedless vascular plants are ferns.