Question

Write a paragraph in your own words about the ornamental plants called ferns.

Answer 1

• Ferns are the nonflowering vascular plants having true leaves, stems, and roots.
• Ferns are believed to be one of the oldest plants on earth and are the second most diverse group of vascular plants.
• These plants reproduce by means of spores.
• They inhabit warm and damp areas of the earth.
• Some ferns are also used as a source of food and medicines also.
• Azolla is used in paddy fields as a biofertilizer.
• The dominant phase of the life cycle is represented by sporophyte which is differentiated into true stem, leaves, and roots.
• Vascular tissue consists of xylem (without vessels) and phloem (without companion cells).
• Vegetative propagation occurs by multiplication and takes place by bulbils, fragmentation, and adventitious buds.
• Sporophylls are present which are sporangia containing leaves.
• The gametophyte is small, inconspicuous, autotrophic and independent.
• Leaves are large sized and called fronds which may be simple with one blade or pinnately compound.
• A single-layered jacket is present around the sporangium.
• Ferns exhibit alternation of dominant sporophyte generation with an inconspicuous gametophyte generation. Hence, they are heteromorphic.