Part 3 — Pteridophyta (Ferns and Allies): Morphology, life cycle, reproduction (Questions 51–75)

Part 3 — Pteridophyta (Ferns and Allies): Morphology, life cycle, reproduction (Questions 51–75)

51. Which of these is a characteristic feature of pteridophytes compared to bryophytes?
A. Dominant gametophyte phase
B. Presence of vascular tissues (xylem and phloem)
C. Lack of sporophyte generation
D. Absence of true leaves
Answer: B — Presence of vascular tissues.
Explanations:
A. False — pteridophytes have dominant sporophyte.
B. Correct: vascular tissues (xylem and phloem) are present, allowing larger sporophytes.
C. False — they have sporophyte generation.
D. False — many have true leaves (microphylls or megaphylls).

52. Which of the following pteridophytes is homosporous?
A. Selaginella
B. Salvinia
C. Marsilea
D. Ferns like Pteris and Nephrolepis
Answer: D — Many true ferns (Pteris, Nephrolepis) are homosporous.
Explanations:
A. Selaginella — heterosporous.
B. Salvinia — heterosporous (aquatic ferns with heterospory).
C. Marsilea — heterosporous.
D. Many ferns — correct: most leptosporangiate ferns are homosporous producing one type of spore.

53. The leaf of a fern (megaphyll) is also called:
A. Microphyll
B. Frond
C. Rhizoid
D. Sorus
Answer: B — Frond.
Explanations:
A. Microphyll — small leaf with single vein (lycophytes).
B. Frond — correct: fern leaves are called fronds (large, divided megaphylls).
C. Rhizoid — anchor structure, not a leaf.
D. Sorus — cluster of sporangia on underside of frond.

54. In heterosporous pteridophytes, microspores develop into:
A. Male gametophytes (antheridia)
B. Female gametophytes only
C. Sporophytes directly
D. Setae
Answer: A — Male gametophytes.
Explanations:
A. Microspores → male gametophytes (produce sperm).
B. Megaspores develop into female gametophytes.
C. Spores do not develop directly into sporophytes.
D. Setae are moss structures.

55. Which structure bears sporangia in ferns like Pteris?
A. Seta
B. Sorus (sori) on the underside of fronds
C. Antheridium
D. Archegonium
Answer: B — Sorus.
Explanations:
A. Seta — moss stalk.
B. Sorus — correct: cluster of sporangia (sori) on fern fronds.
C/D. Antheridia/archegonia are gametophyte sex organs, not sporangia.

56. Which of the following pteridophytes shows true roots, stems and leaves and a well-developed vascular system?
A. Marchantia
B. Lycopodium
C. Funaria
D. Chara
Answer: B — Lycopodium (club moss).
Explanations:
A. Marchantia — bryophyte, no true vascular system.
B. Lycopodium — correct: lycophytes are vascular plants with true roots, stems, leaves (microphylls).
C. Funaria — bryophyte.
D. Chara — green alga.

57. Which pteridophyte exhibits ligule and heterospory and is classified under Selaginellales?
A. Equisetum
B. Selaginella
C. Pteris
D. Azolla
Answer: B — Selaginella.
Explanations:
A. Equisetum — horsetails; do not have ligules in the same sense.
B. Selaginella — correct: lycophyte with ligules and heterospory.
C. Pteris — homosporous fern.
D. Azolla — heterosporous water fern but not Selaginella.

58. In ferns, the gametophyte (prothallus) is typically:
A. Independent, green, heart-shaped and photosynthetic
B. Dependent on sporophyte for nutrition
C. Multicellular diploid structure
D. The sporangium-bearing structure
Answer: A.
Explanations:
A. Correct: fern prothallus is usually independent, photosynthetic (haploid), often heart-shaped in many species.
B. Not true — gametophyte is independent in many ferns.
C. Prothallus is haploid, not diploid.
D. Sporangia are borne on sporophytes (fronds), not prothallus.

59. Which of the following is an example of eusporangiate pteridophyte?
A. Marsilea (leptosporangiate)
B. Equisetum (horsetail; eusporangiate)
C. Pteris (leptosporangiate)
D. Adiantum (leptosporangiate)
Answer: B — Equisetum.
Explanations:
A. Marsilea — usually leptosporangiate.
B. Equisetum — correct: has large sporangia formed from several initial cells (eusporangium).
C. Pteris — leptosporangiate (single initial cell).
D. Adiantum — leptosporangiate.

60. Which pteridophyte is known as “living fossil” showing jointed stem and silica deposits?
A. Selaginella
B. Equisetum
C. Pteris
D. Azolla
Answer: B — Equisetum (horsetail).
Explanations:
A. Selaginella — lycophyte but not “living fossil” in same sense.
B. Equisetum — correct: horsetails are ancient, with jointed stems and silica deposition; sometimes called living fossils.
C. Pteris — common fern, not referred to as living fossil.
D. Azolla — aquatic fern, not typical for silica-rich stems.

61. The specialized root-like absorptive structure in some pteridophyte gametophytes is:
A. Rhizome
B. Rhizoids on prothallus
C. Root hair
D. Protonema
Answer: B — Rhizoids on prothallus.
Explanations:
A. Rhizome — underground stem of sporophyte.
B. Rhizoids — correct: prothalli develop rhizoids for anchorage and absorption.
C. Root hairs — present on roots of sporophytes, not gametophyte prothalli.
D. Protonema — moss stage, not fern.

62. Which pteridophyte exhibits heterospory with endospory (gametophyte develops within the spore wall)?
A. Selaginella
B. Pteris
C. Equisetum
D. Dryopteris
Answer: A — Selaginella.
Explanations:
A. Selaginella — correct: heterosporous lycophyte with endosporic development of gametophytes.
B/C/D. Pteris, Equisetum, Dryopteris — generally homosporous and exosporic (gametophyte develops outside spore wall).

63. In heterosporous pteridophytes, the male gametophyte develops from:
A. Megaspore
B. Microspore
C. Sporangium directly
D. Protonema
Answer: B — Microspore.
Explanations:
A. Megaspore → female gametophyte.
B. Microspore → male gametophyte (produces antheridia or reduced male structures).
C. Sporangium produces spores, not directly gametophyte.
D. Protonema pertains mostly to mosses.

64. Which of the following characters indicates pteridophytes as vascular cryptogams?
A. Presence of seeds
B. Vascular tissues and cryptic reproduction (no seeds or flowers)
C. Presence of flowers and fruits
D. Lack of sporophyte generation
Answer: B.
Explanations:
A. Seeds — absent in pteridophytes (cryptogams).
B. Correct: vascular system is present, but reproduction lacks seeds (cryptogamic).
C. Flowers/fruits — angiosperms only.
D. Sporophyte generation present and dominant in pteridophytes.

65. Which of the following is a water fern forming symbiotic relationship with cyanobacteria (Anabaena) for nitrogen fixation?
A. Azolla
B. Equisetum
C. Pteris
D. Selaginella
Answer: A — Azolla.
Explanations:
A. Azolla — correct: harbors Anabaena in leaf cavities; used as green manure in rice cultivation.
B/C/D — other pteridophytes do not typically host nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria.

66. Megaphylls are characteristic of:
A. Lycophytes (microphylls)
B. True ferns and seed plants (megaphylls)
C. Algae
D. Mosses
Answer: B — True ferns and seed plants.
Explanations:
A. Lycophytes — have microphylls (single-vein small leaves).
B. True ferns and seed plants — correct: megaphylls with complex venation.
C/D — algae and mosses lack true megaphylls.

67. The process by which a fern spore forms a gametophyte is called:
A. Meiosis
B. Germination
C. Sporulation
D. Fertilization
Answer: B — Germination.
Explanations:
A. Meiosis — occurs in sporangium producing spores.
B. Germination — correct: spore germinates to form prothallus (gametophyte).
C. Sporulation — formation of spores in sporangium.
D. Fertilization — fusion of gametes, later in life cycle.

68. Which of the following is true about sporophylls in Selaginella?
A. They are identical to vegetative leaves.
B. They bear sporangia and may be dimorphic (microsporophylls & megasporophylls).
C. They produce seeds.
D. They form cones only in gymnosperms.
Answer: B.
Explanations:
A. Not necessarily identical; sporophylls often modified.
B. Correct: in Selaginella and other heterosporous lycophytes, sporophylls are specialized leaves bearing either microsporangia or megasporangia.
C. Seeds are absent.
D. Cones are gymnosperm structures but some pteridophytes have strobili (cones-like).

69. Which cell type in pteridophyte xylem conducts water?
A. Tracheids
B. Sieve tubes
C. Collenchyma
D. Parenchyma only
Answer: A — Tracheids.
Explanations:
A. Tracheids — correct: primitive water-conducting elements in vascular plants including pteridophytes.
B. Sieve tubes — phloem conducting cells; evolved in seed plants.
C/D. Collenchyma/parenchyma primarily support or storage, not major conducting water.

70. In Equisetum, the cone-like structure bearing sporangia at stem tip is called:
A. Frond
B. Sorus
C. Strobilus (strobili)
D. Prothallus
Answer: C — Strobilus.
Explanations:
A. Frond — fern leaf.
B. Sorus — cluster of sporangia on ferns.
C. Strobilus — correct: Equisetum and lycophytes have strobili (cones) bearing sporophylls/sporangia.
D. Prothallus — gametophyte of ferns.

71. Which pteridophyte shows secondary growth in some species (woodiness)?
A. Selaginella — widely woody?
B. Equisetum — not typical secondary growth
C. Some tree ferns and shrubby lycophytes exhibit secondary growth-like thickening
D. All pteridophytes lack any thickening
Answer: C (some tree ferns and certain lycophytes show thickening).
Explanations:
A. Selaginella — mostly herbaceous, some may be lignified.
B. Equisetum — has hollow stem and silica, but not typical secondary growth.
C. Correct: tree ferns (Cyatheales) and some extinct/rare taxa have massive trunk-like structures and secondary thickening mechanisms.
D. False — not all lack any thickening.

72. In the fern life cycle, archegonia are produced on:
A. Sporophyte fronds
B. Prothallus (gametophyte)
C. Sporangia
D. Rhizome only
Answer: B — Prothallus.
Explanations:
A. Sporophyte fronds bear sporangia, not archegonia.
B. Correct: the gametophyte (prothallus) develops archegonia and antheridia.
C. Sporangia make spores.
D. Rhizome is a sporophyte structure.

73. Which fern genus is commonly used as an ornamental indoor plant and has pinnate fronds?
A. Selaginella
B. Pteris / Nephrolepis (e.g., Boston fern)
C. Equisetum
D. Lycopodium
Answer: B — Pteris / Nephrolepis.
Explanations:
A. Selaginella — small clubmoss, sometimes used terrariums.
B. Correct: Nephrolepis exaltata (Boston fern) and Pteris species are common ornamentals with pinnate fronds.
C. Equisetum — horsetail, not common indoor ornamental.
D. Lycopodium — groundcover clubs, used rarely.

74. The enation theory is used to explain the origin of:
A. Microphylls (small single-veined leaves) in lycophytes
B. Megaphylls (large net-veined leaves) in euphyllophytes
C. Sporangia in algae
D. Seeds in gymnosperms
Answer: B — Megaphylls.
Explanations:
A. Microphylls are explained by the enation theory historically for microphyll origin in lycophytes by some authors, but more correctly the telome theory explains megaphylls. (Note: There are alternate formulations: enation theory was originally proposed for microphylls in lycophytes, while telome theory explains megaphylls).
To be precise for NEET-level: many texts state enation theory for microphylls; telome theory for megaphylls.
Correct if question intended: If enation theory refers to microphylls — then A.
(Given confusion, accepted NEET-level answer: A — Microphylls).

Moderator note: Historically, enation theory describes origin of microphylls via small outgrowths (enations) that later get vascularized. Telome theory explains megaphylls. For exam clarity: enation → microphylls.
Answer (corrected): A — Microphylls.
Explanations:
A. Correct: enation theory explains simple outgrowths (enations) becoming microphylls after vascularization.
B. Telome theory explains megaphylls, not enation.
C/D irrelevant.

75. Which of the following is a distinctive feature of pteridophyte sporophyte compared to bryophyte sporophyte?
A. Bryophyte sporophyte is long-lived and independent
B. Pteridophyte sporophyte is dominant and independent, with true roots, stems, and leaves
C. Pteridophyte sporophyte lacks vascular tissue
D. Bryophyte sporophyte produces seeds
Answer: B.
Explanations:
A. Bryophyte sporophytes are usually short-lived and dependent.
B. Correct: pteridophyte sporophyte is dominant and independent with vascular tissues and true organs.
C. False — pteridophytes have vascular tissue.
D. Bryophytes do not produce seeds. (more…)