Overview of Pteridophytes

Pteridophytes, commonly known as ferns, are a diverse group of vascular plants characterized by their unique features. They possess vascular tissue, including xylem, which transports water and minerals, and phloem, which carries sugars from photosynthesis. Their reproductive cycle includes alternation of generations with a dominant sporophyte phase, the familiar fern, and a smaller gametophyte phase known as the prothallus that produces gametes. Spores are produced in sporangia found in clusters called sori. The fronds, or leaves, can be simple or divided, emerging from a coiled fiddlehead stage and serving multiple functions in growth and nutrient storage.