Plants have been a crucial part of the earth’s ecosystem for millions of years. From towering trees to tiny mosses, they have diversified and adapted to various environments. One group of plants that has remained relatively unchanged for hundreds of millions of years is the Psilophyta, also known as whisk …
Read More »Equisetum: The Scouring Rushes
Equisetum: The Scouring Rushes Equisetum commonly known as ‘Horsetails’ or ‘Scouring rushes’. It comprises about 25 species and is worldwide in distribution. Except This genus in vascular plants, there is no living genus in Equisetaceae family that reproduces by spores rather than seeds. Taxonomic position: Division: Sphenophyta Class: Sphenopsida Order: …
Read More »Introduction to Pteridophyta
The word cryptogams is a synthesis of two Greek terms kruptos meaning ‘hidden’ and gamos meaning ‘wedded’. This single term encompasses all plants that reproduce by means of spores and, do not produce seeds. The algae, fungi, bryophytes and pteridophytes are all cryptogams. The pteridophyta are treated as vascular cryptogams …
Read More »Pteridophytes: Classification of Pteridophyta
The term Pteridophyta was first coined by Haeckel. Eichler (1883) divided the plant kingdom into Cryptogamia and Phanerogamia. The Cryptogamia was further divided into Thallophyta. Bryophyta and Pteridophyta. Engler (1909) included the Bryophyta and Pteridophyta under Embryophyta. Due to discovery of the fossil plants, the classification of Pteridophytes has undergone …
Read More »Pteridophytes: Origin and Evolution
They are the earliest known vascular plants that originated in the Silurian period (400 million years ago) of the Palaeozoic Era and subsequently diversified and formed the dominant vegetation on earth during Devonian to Permian period. There are controversies regarding their origin and evolution. There are two broad theories about …
Read More »Evolution of Plants: Telome Theory
Telome theory was proposed by Walter Zimmerman (1952, 1965). This theory is based on fossil records and explains the major steps in the evolution of vascular plants. According to this theory, all vascular plants have evolved from simple, leaf-less, root-less and dichotomously branched sterile and fertile axes called telomes which …
Read More »Sphagnum: A Useful Peat
(AB: This article only contains the use of peat from Sphagnum and it’s uses in gardening. Although some constructive discussions are in here to facilitate it, they are not exhaustive.) If you are fond of gardening or concerned about the dying condition of your trees, this article will be helpful …
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