Whisk ferns

Definition

Whisk ferns are primitive vascular plants belonging to the class Psilotopsida. They lack true leaves and roots, possessing instead simple, forked stems with small scale-like structures.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Whisk ferns reproduce via spores rather than seeds.
2. They lack true roots and leaves, instead having rhizoids and enations.
3. The genus Psilotum is the most well-known example of whisk ferns.
4. Whisk ferns have a simple vascular system consisting of xylem and phloem.
5. These plants are considered living fossils due to their resemblance to early land plants.

Review Questions

• How do whisk ferns differ from other vascular plants in terms of structure?
• What is the primary method of reproduction for whisk ferns?
• Why are whisk ferns often referred to as 'living fossils'?

Related terms

Vascular Plants: Plants that have specialized tissues (xylem and phloem) for transporting water, nutrients, and food throughout the plant

Spores:

Reproductive cells capable of developing into a new individual without fusion with another cell, characteristic of seedless plants

Enations: Small, leaf-like appendages found on the stems of some primitive vascular plants like whisk ferns