Question

How are pteridophytes different from phanerogams?

Answer 1

The Plant Kingdom can be classified on the basis of the presence or absence of seeds. The two major classifications of the plant kingdom are 1. Cryptogams and 2. Phanerogams. Cryptogams are plants without any seeds and phanerogams possess seeds.

Complete step by step answer: 1.Seedless vascular plants with sporophytic plant bodies are referred to as pteridophytes. They have inconspicuous gametophytes with small antheridia and partially embedded archegonia.
2.The plants that have special structures for reproduction and generate seeds are called phanerogams. Angiosperms and gymnosperms are the two divisions of phanerogams.
The main differences between pteridophytes and phanerogams are:

Pteridophytes	Phanerogams
Pteridophytes are cryptogams. Hence, they do not possess seeds.	Phanerogams possess seeds.
Pteridophytes have primitive vascular tissues.	Phanerogams have advanced vascular tissues.
Ferns and their relatives are the main constituents of these flowerless green plants.	Angiosperms and gymnosperms are the two well defined reproductive parts.
Reproductive organs remain hidden in pteridophytes.	The reproductive organs are well defined and exposed.
In pteridophytes, the embryo is naked.	It has an embryo with stored food known as seeds.

Additional information:
1.Apart from pteridophytes, there are two other types of cryptogams. These are thallophytes and bryophytes. Thallophytes are the simplest plant with undifferentiated or thallus-form. Algae fall under the category of thallophytes.
2.Nonvascular terrestrial plants (moist habitat) are called bryophytes. In bryophytes, a multicellular sporophyte lives as a parasite over a gametophyte.

Note: 1.Thus, a pteridophyte is a vascular plant that has the capability of dispersing spores. Ferns, horsetails fall under the category of pteridophytes.
2.Phanerogams are seed-bearing plants and are considered to be the most advanced plants.