Pteridophytes are plants that use spores to reproduce and require water.

Pteridophytes are plants that use spores to reproduce and require water.

• A. They are non-vascular
• B. They use seeds to reproduce
• C. They use spores to reproduce and require water
• D. They are flowering plants

Answer: (C)

Pteridophytes reproduce by spores and require water for fertilization. They are seedless vascular plants, so they have vascular tissue but do not produce seeds. Spores are produced in sporangia and, during their life cycle, a moist environment is needed for the motile sperm to swim to the egg, making water essential for reproduction. They are not flowering plants, and they are not non-vascular. This combination—spore-based reproduction and reliance on water for fertilization—best fits what pteridophytes are.

Pteridophytes reproduce by spores and require water for fertilization. They are seedless vascular plants, so they have vascular tissue but do not produce seeds. Spores are produced in sporangia and, during their life cycle, a moist environment is needed for the motile sperm to swim to the egg, making water essential for reproduction. They are not flowering plants, and they are not non-vascular. This combination—spore-based reproduction and reliance on water for fertilization—best fits what pteridophytes are.