Question

Ferns are characterized by
A. Heterospory
B. Seed bearing
C. Homospory
D. Tracheids and vessels.

Answer 1

Ferns are the reptiles of the plant kingdom and they are known as pteridophytes, such a plant group is the vascular plant that disperses spores. It belongs to cryptogams due to not bearing flowers and seeds, which state that their reproduction phase is hidden.

Complete answer: Pteridophyte is a seedless plant that has a sporophytic plant body with inconspicuous gametophyte that contains small antheridia and partially embedded archegonia. This thing represents the life cycle of pteridophytes is an alternation of generations, the sporophyte produces spore which is the diploid generation and it is followed by haploid generation by formation gametes by gametophyte or prothallus. Spores of pteridophyte are a majorly homosporous (similar) example:- Pteris, Adiantum and some of the plant are heterosporous which means which produce two types of spores, microspores, and megaspore example:- Salvinia and Marsilea. Pteridophyte plants occur in a cool, damp, shady place and some are also found in sandy soil. Pteridophyte plant body is diploid sporophytic and well-differentiated into leaves, stems, and roots. Leaves can be microphyllous and macrophyllus. Sex organs of pteridophyte plants have multicellular and jacketed antheridia is small and sessile while archegonia are 4-necked rowed.
This plant group shows four subclasses named Psilopsida, Lycopsida, Sphenopsida, and pteropsida.
Psilopsida is a group of most primitive vascular plants, rhizoids are present instead of roots, for example:- Cooksonia and Rhynia. Lycopsida is also a primitive type but also shows the differentiation of plant body into root, stem, and leaves.
Hence, the correct option is C.

Note: There are some economic importance of pteridophyte plant such as food for animals and tribal people, soil binding on hills slop to protect from soil erosion, nitrogen fixation by Azolla with the help of certain bacteria, medicine formation from Dryopteris , Ornamental use of some fern plants.