BIS 2C Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Fern, Rhyniopsida, Selaginella
30 Aug 2016
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Resurrection plant = some species of selaginella roll up into a ball in dry conditions but come back to life within hours of exposure to water. Monilophytes = vascular plants with megaphylls (or their derivatives); they do not produce seeds. Microphylls refer specifically to the structure found on lycophytes, but botanists often use the term to describe little leaves". Megaphylls = larger than microphylls and have complex vasculature. Whisk ferns (psilotum) = group of ferns with several unusual features; part of monilophytes. Features: 1) reduced roots 2) dichotomous branching 3) simple sporangia at nodes. Features are similar to those found in rhyniophytes (rhyniophyte features: 1) no roots 2) dichotomous branching 3) simple sporangia at tips) Answer: an inversion in the chloroplast dna is a synapomorphy of monilophytes + seed plants. Clicker question: psilotum leaves are best referred to as reduced megaphylls (because they are so small, but theyre not microphylls!)
