Some important points about PTERIDOPHYTES...!!

Some important points about PTERIDOPHYTES...!!

1. Most primitive vascukar land plants are psilophytales members, Rhynia, Horneophyton, Cooksonia and Psilophton.
2. According to fossils records, Cooksonia is the oldest known vascular plant. (Palaeozoic era , about 400 million years ago).
3. Psilophton is the first fossil member discovered by Sir Willian Dawson (1858).
4. Rhynia is a fossil pteridophyte which is rootless and leafless and was discovered by Kidson and Lang (1913) from Rhynichert beds, Scotlond.
5. Hightest number of chromosomes in plants has been reported in pteridophyte, Ophioglossum, where 2n = 1262.
6. Aquatic pteridophytes : Salvinia, Azolla, Marsillea, Pilularia.
(Azolla is smallest pteridophyte. It contains blue green algae in its leaves and has Nitrogen fixing ability. It uses as biifertilizer.
7. Xerophytic pteridophytes : Woodsia elongata, Drynaria, Adiantum incisum.
8. Woody fern or tree fern: Cyathaea (having upto 5-20 ft). It is largest pteridophyte.
9. Seed habit is shown by Selafinella rupestris..
10. A homoeopathic medicine "Lycopodium" is extracted fron Lycopodium species.
11. Some common names.
Selaginella === Little club moss or spike moss
Lycopodium === Club moss
Equisetum === Horse tail
Ophioglossum=== Adder's tongue fern
Adiantum === Maiden hair fern
Adiantum caudatum === Walking fern
Dryopteris === Male shield fern
Onychium === Golden fern
Pteris === Sun fern
Psilotum === Whisk fern