Md. Rezaul Islam, Lecturer in Zoology, English Medium- Day Shift, Rajuk Uttara Model College.

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Chapter-06: Bryophyta and Pteridophyta

PTERIDOPHYTA OR FERN PLANTS

(GK. PTERON=FERN; PHYTON=PLANT)

The word Pteridophyte is originated from the Greek words Pteron (wing) and phyton(plant). Its
dictionary meaning is winged plant. We are familiar with ornamental fern plants. Drytopteris is also a
kind of fern. All fern like plants are included in Pteridophyta division, so pteridophyte plants are also
called fern plants. They are non-flowering and vascular tissue present in their body, so they are called
vascular cryptogams. There are 10000 species under 400 genuses of pteridophytes in the world.
Plants included in the Pteridophyta division are called Pteridophytes. 195 species of 41 genuses has
been listed from Bangladesh. Most are terrestrial, some aquatic and some parasitic. Plants of this group
first distributed in the lands about 400 million years ago.
01. FEATURES OF PTERIDOPHYTES:
a) They are non-flowering and seedless plants.
b) They are sporophytic plants. i.e diploid.
c) Gametophyte stage is called prothallus, which is thallus like.
d) Body can be divided into root, stem and leaves.
e) They have vascular tissue.
f) Embryo is formed.
g) In most species stem is converted into rhizome.
h) Spore is produced in sporophyte, which is homosporous or heterosporous.
i) Their reproductive organ is multicellular and reproductive organ surrounded by sterile cell
layer.
j) Their male gamete is motile and produced in the antheredium.
k) Female gamete is non-motile and produced an archaegonium.
l) Clear heteromorphic alternation of generation is seen in their life cycle.

GENUS: PTERIS

In Bangladesh Pteris is a well-known fern plant. They prefer to grow in sunlight. So they are called
sunfern. In Bangladesh 16 species of Pteris grow. Like: Pteris vittata, P. longifolia, etc. Pteris vittata
grows most abundantly.

01. HABITAT:
Pteris generally grows on old damp wall. Also grow on brick mounds. They grow on wall and bricks,
so they are subaerial. There are 250 species under Pteris genus.
02. PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF PTERIS:
Main plant of Pteris is Sporophytic or diploid. Pinna
Sorus
Their body is divided into root, stem and leaves.
Stem is rhizome like (underground modified stem)
Frond
and grows few centimeters below the habitat. It is
long and growth is indefinite. From lower surface of
rhizome fine and minutely branched adventitious Rachis
root, come out in a cluster. Leaves are evergreen Circinate vernation
Rhizome
and pinnately compound. Leaves of fern is called Scale leaves
Root
frond. Fig: Physical structure of Pteris

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Chapter-06: Bryophyta and Pteridophyta
The arrangement of leaves during bud phase is called vernation. Leaves of fern remains coiled in
young or bud stage which is called circinate vernation. Coiled young leaves are called crozier.
Leaves are compound and each leaf blade is called pinna. Pinna is sessile, oppositely or alternatively
arranged. Each pinna is sessile, linear shaped and edge is smooth. Apical pinna is the longest. The
lower part of the rachis of leaves and rhizome is covered by numerous brown colored scaly leaves.
Scaly leaves are called ramentum.
03. INTERNAL STRUCTURE:
A. Rhizome (stem):
 Epidermis:
This layered is composed of one layer of thin walled
parenchyma types of cell. Epidermis is very hard because
of presence of cuticle at its outer surface.
 Cortex:
The part of rhizome present below the epidermis and outer Epidermis
side of the vascular tissue is called cortex. The cortex layer Sclerenchyma
can be divided into two layers. These are-
i. Hypodermis:
Bi-layered hypodermis is surrounded by the epidermis. Phloem

The cells of hypodermis are thick walled. Xylem

ii. General cortex:
Cortex
Located below the hypodermis. It is multi layered and
composed of thin cell walled parenchyma type of tissue.
 Vascular bundle or stele:
Multiple vascular bundle present in cortex. Vascular bundle Fig: T.S of Rhizome of Pteris.
is Hadrocentric (xylem centered) that is xylem at the
center and phloem at the periphery.
B. Rachis:
In transverse section of rachis-
 Outer part is epidermis, then sclerenchymatous hypodermis surrounded by the epidermis. And
multilayered cortex surrounded by hypodermis.
 In cortex tissue, horseshoe shaped stele (transport tissue bundle) present.
 Vascular bundle is hadrocentric.
C. Pinna:
In the transverse section of pinna-
 Upper epidermis and lower hypodermis is composed of one layered of cell.
 Cuticle is present at the upper epidermis and stomata are present at the lower epidermis.
 Mesophyll layer is present between the both dermis.
 Spongy parenchyma and palisade parenchyma are present in the mesophyll tissue.
 The cell of mesophyll parenchyma is chlorophyllus and contains air cavity.
 The stele is xylem centered.
 Conjoint vascular bundle is present at the mid vein area which is with endodermis and
pericycle.

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Chapter-06: Bryophyta and Pteridophyta
04. REPRODUCTION:
Pteris reproduces by vegetative, asexual and sexual reproduction. Among them vegetative and
asexual reproduction occurs in sporophytic stage and sexual reproduction occurs in
gametophytic stage.
A. Vegetative reproduction:
Sometimes a small portion of the matured rhizome may die. For this, the immature part of rhizome
becomes separate from the destroyed part. The separate part of the immature rhizome may transform
into new sporophyte by the formation of leaf and branches.
B. Asexual reproduction:
 Asexual reproduction occurs by spore formation.
 When Pteris plant is matured, small sporangia are produced at the two margins of lower
surface of pinna.
 Inside sporangium asexual reproductive body named spore is produced.
 Sporangia located in cluster and cluster of sporangia is called sorus.
 Each sorus is bean or kidney shaped.
 The tissue from which sporangium is produced is called Placenta.
 Margin of pinna is folded inwards to cover sori. This cap like structure is called false
indusium. (the covering membrane of sporangium is called indusium) Sorus producing leaf
is called Sporophyll. Mature sporangium formed of a stalk (sporangiophore) and a semi-
circular capsule. Capsule present on top of sporangiophore.
Capsule formed of the following part-
i. Annulus:
Most part of the capsule is formed of chitin and covered by one cell layered thick covering.
This thick covering is called annulus and it is hydrophyllic.
ii. Stomium:
Adjacent to capsule stalk, in some part thin wall ring shaped cells are present, called stomium.
During releasing of spore, sporangium burst along stomium and spore is released.
iii. Stalk:
A short stalk is present at the base of sporangium.
Pinna tissue

Capsule Annulus

Spore
Placenta
Tetrad
stomium
Spore

Sporangium

Stalk

(B) C
False indusium
(A)

B. Spore production and distribution:

Tissue inside capsule is called Sporogenous tissue, because from this tissue spore mother cell is
produced. Spore mother cell is diploid. Each capsule (sporangium) contains 16 spore mother
cells. By meiosis division hapoid (n) spore is produced from spore mother cell. From one
sporangium 64 spores are produced. Matured spores are brown colored and of same features. Due
to formation of spore water containing capacity of sporangium is reduced and sporangium becomes
dry. When sporangium becomes dry, annulus is contracted at the posterior end and stomium is burst
obliquely. Wet annulus returns to its previous form. Due to movement of annulus here and there spore
are spread from sporangium and spreads outside.

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Chapter-06: Bryophyta and Pteridophyta
C. Gametophyte:
Spore produced in the sporophyte of Pteris, is the first cell of gametophyte. Haploid spore is
germinated in suitable environment when it comes in contact with any moist substance and forms a
heart shaped green organ by continuous mitotic division. Apical notch
This is the gametophyte of fern. This heart shaped
gametophyte is called prothallus. Many rhizoids are
produced from the lower part of lower surface of
prothallus. Rhizoid attaches the prothallus to the soil Archaegonium
and supply nutrition to the prothallus from soil. A deep
Antheredium
notch is present at the upper part of prothallus. It is
called apical notch. Prothallus is green colored, Rhizoid
multinucleated, independent and autotrophic plant.
Prothallus is bisexual i.e. it contains both male and
female gamete in the same body. Fig: Lower surface of fern gametophyte
Female reproductive organ (archaegonium) is
D. SEXUAL
produced nearREPRODUCTION:
the notch on the ventral surface and
male
Sexualreproductive
reproduction organ (antheridium)
occurs in is produced
prothallus. Female reproductive organ (archaegonium) is produced near
remaining
the notch onmixed with rhizoid.
its ventral surface. Male reproductive organ (antheridium) is produced in the part where
rhizoid is produced, so prothallus is monocious. Canal passage
a). Archaegonium: Neck

Female reproductive organ is called archaegonium. It is flsk Neck canal cell

shaped. It consists of neck and venter. There is an egg or venter canal cell
oosphere at the lower part of venter and above the egg there
is a venter canal cell. In the neck more than one neck canal Egg
cell is present. When archaegonium is matured, due to
melting of neck canal cell and venter canal cell into a
mucilaginous substance, a passage is formed and only the Fig: Archaegonium of Pteris.
ovum present is present inside the venter.
b). Antheredium:
Male reproductive organ is called antheredium. Antheredium
is spherical shaped. There are 32 sperm mother cell or
Sperm mother cell
androcytes are present inside the antheredium. Mother cells Elimination of sperm
are surrounded by sterile layer. The sterile layer is composed Sperm
of three cells. Ring cells are present at the base while one
apical covering cell is present at the top. Each sperm mother Flagella

cell is converted into a spirally coiled multiflagelated sperm

(antherozoid). The apical covering cell of the tip of
antheredium burst and sperms come out and travel by Fig: Antheredium of Pteris.
swimming in water and reached at the archaegonium.
Primary leaf
E. FERTILIZATION:
Sperms are travelled to archaegonium by dew drops or rain
water. Malic acid is secreted by archaegonium, as a result Stem
sperm is attracted to ovum. Many sperm enters inside through
the neck canal of archaegonium but only one sperm fuses Root
with the ovum to complete fertilization. Diploid oospore is Prothellus
produced due to fertilization. Thus complete chromosome
number returns by fertilization and diploid and sporophytic
generation begins.
Fig: Origin of new sporophyte Rhizoid

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Chapter-06: Bryophyta and Pteridophyta
F. NEW SPOROPHYTIC PLANT:
Zygote or oospore is the first cell of sporophyte. Sporophyte forms embryo though repeated mitosis
division. Embryo matured to form new sporophyte consisting of roots, stem and leaf. After root enters
the soil, the prothallus dries and sporophyte plant is converted to complete Pteris plant.

ALTERNATION OF GENERATION OF PTERIS

Alternation of diploid (2n) sporophytic and haploid (n) gametophytic generation to complete the life
cycle of any organism is called alternation of generation.
In lifecycle of Pteris plant, clearly alternation of two generation occurs. One is sporophytic generation
and the other is gametophytic generation.
A). SPOROPHYTIC GENERATION:
 Plant body of Pteris is sporophytic or diploid (2n).
 Sporophyte produces sorus along pinna during reproductive season.
 Sorus is a cluster of sporangium.
 Inside each sporangium 16 diploid spore mother cells (2n) are produced.
 Spore mother cell is divided by meiosis to produce 64 haploid (n) spores.
 After spore formation, spores come out by breaking capsule wall. Thus sporophytic generation
ends.
B). GAMETOPHYTIC GENERATION:
 Spore mother cell divides by meiosis to form haploid (n) spore which is the first step of
gametophyte.
 This haploid spore germinates to form independent gametophytic stage named prothallus.
 Archaegonium, antheridium formed in prothallus and the ovum and sperm formed inside them,
all are haploid.
 Due to fertilization between them diploid oospore(2n) is formed which is the first stage of
sporophytic stage.
 Oospore germinates and continuously divides through mitosis to form embryo and a complete
Pteris plant.
 This is how the alternation of sporophytic and gametophytic stage occurs in Pteris plant.
 In Pteris sporophytic stage is longest and gametophytic stage is quite shortest and both
stages are different in shape–size and independent. This type of alternation of generation
is called heteromorphic alternation of generation.
The alternation of generation where sporophytic and gametophytic both stages are equal are called
diplobiontic alternation of generation. Again the diplobiontic alternation of generation in which
sporophytic and gametophytic plants are different in terms of shape or appearance is called
heterobiontic alternation of generation.

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Chapter-06: Bryophyta and Pteridophyta

Antheredium
Archegonium
Germination Prothallus (n)

Ovum (n)

Spore (n)

Spore mother cell (2n)

Sperm (n) Fertilization

Spore tetrad (n)

Gametophytic generation (n)

Meiosis

Sporophytic generation (2n)

Oospore (2n)
Spore mother cell

New sporophyte(2n)

Sorus (2n)

Pteris plant

Fig: Heteromorphic Alternation of Generation of Pteris

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Chapter-06: Bryophyta and Pteridophyta
05. ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE OF PTERIS:
1. Pteris plant can be eaten as vegetables/greens.
2. Used for decorating home.
3. Used as fertilizer.
06. IDENTIFING FEATURES OF PTERIS:
1. Body is divided into root, stem and leaves.
2. Stem is transformed into rhizome.
3. Rhizome covered by ramentum.
4. Leaf compound and remains coiled in young stage.
5. All spores are same (hommosporous).
6. Sporangia arrange at the edge of pinna to form sorous.
7. Sporangium is covered by false indusium.
8. Prothallus (gametophyte) green, heart-shape and monocious.
9. Adventitious root comes out from below the rhizome.
10. Rachis present in the leaves.
11. Pteris plant is a pteridophyte because-
 It is photosynthetic (so, not- fungi).
 Vascular (so, not- algae or bryophytes).
 Non-flowering (so, not- gymnosperm or angiosperm).

07: CLASSIFICATION OF PTERIS:

Kingdom: Plantae
Grade: Tracheophyta
Division: Filicinophyta
Class: Filicineae
Order: Filicales
Family: Polypodiaceae
Genus: Pteris

08. DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BRYOPHYTA AND PTERIDOPYTA:

Features Bryophyta (Riccia) Pteridophyta (Pteris)

1. Plant body 1. Gametophytic (n), thalloid. 1. Sporophytic (2n), body is divided
into root, stem and leaf.
2. Dependency 2. Sporophyte (2n) is totally dependent 2. Sporophyte (2n) and gametophyte
on gametophyte (n). (n) are independent.
3. Germination of 3. Protonema (thallus of Riccia) is 3. Heart shaped prothellus is
spore germinated from spore. germinated from spore.
4.Vascular tissue 4. Absent (avascular) 4. Present (vascular)
5. Sperm 5. Bi-flagillated. 5. Muliflagillated.

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