Club Mosses, Ferns & Horsetails: Vascular Plants - a quick review the Seed-free Vascular Plants Two unrelated groups within “cryptogams” – seed free vascular plants – are recognized as phyla: 1. Lycopodiophyta : lycopods 2. Polypodiophyta: ferns & horsetails
1 2
Vascular Plants - a quick review Vascular Plants - a quick review Why were the seed-free plants “grouped” together? Why were the seed-free plants “grouped” together?
They produce free spores, the principal dispersal units, via meiosis. Spores develop within a sporangium (pl. sporangia) Spore: a reproductive cell, capable of developing into an adult without fusion with another cell. Life-cycle Life-cycle sporangium
spores spores
3 4
1 Vascular Plants - a quick review Vascular Plants - a quick review Why were the seed-free plants “grouped” together? Why were the seed-free plants “grouped” together? Spores germinate and develop into gametophytes that exist Like all plants, seed-free plants produce two kinds of gametes in their independently of the spore-producing plants. The gametophytes gametophytes: sperm and egg that unite to form a zygote (2n or (haploid, n) tend to be inconspicuous and short-lived. diploid) via fertilization Life-cycle sporangium Life-cycle sporangium
zygote
gametophyte gametophyte spores spores
5 6
Vascular Plants - a quick review Vascular Plants - a quick review Why were the seed-free plants “grouped” together? Why were the seed-free plants “grouped” together? The sporophyte (2n) develops from the zygote and is more conspicuous, usually perennial and lives for an indefinite period Life-cycle – alternation of generations
Life-cycle sporangium sporangium sporophyte sporophyte
zygote zygote
gametophyte gametophyte spores spores
7 8
2 Wisconsin Seed-free Plants Wisconsin Seed-free Plants The best website to identify and see images of Wisconsin’s seed- The best manual to identify lycopods free plants is Gary Fewless’ at UW-Green Bay; links provided and ferns is Ferns of Northeastern below and Central North America (2nd ed.) in the Peterson Field Guides
Warning: - synonyms!
Key to Ferns and Fern Allies of Wisconsin Families and genera (and thus List of Pteridophytes of Wisconsin species names) are changing quickly Glossary of Fern Terminology in the seed-free plants
also:
Michigan Online Flora
9 10
Phylum Lycopodiophyta Phylum Lycopodiophyta club mosses, spike mosses, quillworts
Leaves microphylls: small, simple, one-veined leaves
Carboniferous forest from Illinois
Sporangia: the spore producers on the This group arose in the Later Silurian about 420 million sporophytes are located singly on the upper years ago and was dominant in the Carboniferous and surfaces or in axils of the bracts of a cone or used to be much more diverse. of green leaves
11 12
3 Phylum Lycopodiophyta Phylum Lycopodiophyta Lycopods and ferns – in general – contribute Lycopodiaceae - club mosses to a great phylogenetic diversity in the 15 genera and about 375 species Northern Hardwoods province Lycopodium now split into several genera Climate change will drive many out of WI Evergreen, stems elongate and 2017 – specimen & model 2070 – model projection dichotomously branching. Leaves often densely covering the stem. Many species over-collected for Christmas wreaths.
Diphasiastrum complanatum Ground cedar, crowfoot
13 14
Phylum Lycopodiophyta
Lycopodiaceae - club mosses 15 genera and about 375 species Lycopodium now split into several genera
Evergreen, stems elongate and dichotomously branching. Leaves often densely covering the stem. Many species over-collected for Christmas wreaths.
Oily compounds in the cell walls ignite rapidly into a flash of light Diphasiastrum complanatum Ground cedar, crowfoot
15 16
4 Phylum Lycopodiophyta Phylum Lycopodiophyta
Lycopodiaceae - club mosses Lycopodiaceae - club mosses other examples
Dendrolycopodium obscurum Ground pine
Homosporous: “same spore” - one kind of spore produced; cones terete (rounded)
17 18
Phylum Lycopodiophyta Phylum Lycopodiophyta
Lycopodiaceae - club mosses Lycopodiaceae - club mosses other examples other examples
Lycopodiella inundata Bog club moss
Huperzia lucidula Shiny club moss
Alkaloid for Alzheimers?
19 20
5 Phylum Lycopodiophyta
Huperzia lucidula Shiny club moss
Polytrichum forest mosses
21 22
Phylum Lycopodiophyta Phylum Lycopodiophyta
Selaginellaceae - spike mosses Selaginellaceae - spike mosses 1 genus and about 750 species
Mainly tropical family with some species extending into arctic regions Heterosporous: “different” spores of both hemispheres Unlike Lycopodiaceae, Leaves spirally arranged and often 4- Selaginellaceae are heterosporous ranked on the secondary and ultimate with different types of spores: branches. microspores and megaspore - the micro give rise to male gametophytes Spores borne in or near the axils of and the mega give rise to the female well-differentiated sprophylls, usually gametophytes. on 4 sided strobilus.
23 24
6 Phylum Lycopodiophyta Phylum Lycopodiophyta
Selaginellaceae - spike mosses Selaginellaceae - spike mosses
Heterosporous: “different”
Selaginella eclipes meadow spike moss
25 26
Phylum Lycopodiophyta Phylum Lycopodiophyta Isoetaceae - quillworts Selaginellaceae - spike mosses 1 genus and about 150 species; worldwide; 2 spp. in WI - Isoetes echinospora most common
Aquatic or semi-aquatic plants. Microphylls quite long (15+ cm).
Selaginella ruprestis Selaginella selaginoides I. butleri - Rock spike moss Isoetes echinospora Northern spike moss not native Endangered!
27 28
7 Phylum Lycopodiophyta Phylum Polypodiophyta - ferns & horsetails Isoetaceae - quillworts Equisetaceae - horsetails, scouring rushes Heterosporous plants with sporangia borne at the base of sporophylls which are similar to vegetative leaves. 1 genus, Equisetum, 15 species with Megasporangia + microsporangia a cosmopolitan distribution except for Australia or New Zealand [9 species in Wisconsin]
Shoots monomorphic or dimorphic (see right).
Often highly branched (horsetails) appearing like leaves. Others not branched (scouring rushes).
29 30
Phylum Polypodiophyta Phylum Polypodiophyta Equisetaceae - horsetails, scouring rushes Equisetaceae - horsetails, scouring rushes
Leaves in whorls, united to megaphyll form a sheath around the sheath stem; these leaves are reduced megaphylls – with a blade branch that has a complex system of veins.
Internodes with conspicuous vertical ridges; jointed stems; stems hollow (both important taxonomic features Horsetails belong with the for keying species) “normal” looking-leaved ferns
31 32
8 Phylum Polypodiophyta Phylum Polypodiophyta Equisetaceae - horsetails, scouring rushes Equisetaceae - horsetails, scouring rushes
Sporangia clustered terminally in cones Horsetails are homosporous and form composed of polygonal, umbrella-like conspicuous green gametophytes structures with sporangia beneath.
33 34
Phylum Polypodiophyta Phylum Polypodiophyta Equisetaceae - some examples of native horsetails & scouring rushes Equisetaceae - some examples of native horsetails & scouring rushes
Equisetum arvense Equisetum sylvaticum Equisetum laevigatum Equisetum scirpoides Field horsetail Woodland horsetail Smooth scouring rush Dwarf horsetail
35 36
9 Phylum Polypodiophyta Phylum Polypodiophyta the true ferns the true ferns Most diverse of the vascular Like the horsetails, leaves are cryptogams, both in species number megaphylls; blade is called a frond (ca. 11,000 worldwide) and form and the petioles as stipes. (small aquatics to trees).
37 38
Phylum Polypodiophyta Phylum Polypodiophyta ferns ferns
Circinate vernation: vernation is the arrangement of folded Sporangia borne on the margin or the lower surface of the leaf; leaves in a bud, forming a crozier or fiddlehead, i.e. coiled or often grouped in sori (pl.) sorus (sing.); a sorus may be rolled up at the tip and unfolding lengthwise when emerging - protected by a flap-like structure called the indusium. due to auxin and differential growth of tissue. Protects young bud.
39 40
10 Phylum Polypodiophyta Phylum Polypodiophyta ferns ferns
The sprorangium is often associated with an annulus a cluster The sprorangium is often associated with an annulus a cluster or row of cells with thick walls that open the sporangium and or row of cells with thick walls that open the sporangium and catapult the spores into the air. catapult the spores into the air.
annulus
41 42
Phylum Polypodiophyta Phylum Polypodiophyta ferns There is major disagreement on what are the fern families, but 30 are generally recognized worldwide. Use the list of genera & families in the Student Herbarium.
43 44
11 Phylum Polypodiophyta Phylum Polypodiophyta
Ophioglossaceae - adder’s tongue family Ophioglossaceae - adder’s tongue family Sporangia are on an erect Primitive ferns; 4 genera in Wisconsin: Primitive ferns; 2 genera in Wisconsin: axis with a green blade Ophioglossum and Botrychium (now 3 genera) Ophioglossum and Botrychium (now 3 genera) attached below sporangia Botrychium mormo Goblin fern
Botrychium lunaria Moonwort fern Ophioglossum pusillum Botrypus virginianum Adder’s tongue fern Rattlesnake fern
45 46
Phylum Polypodiophyta Phylum Polypodiophyta
Osmundaceae - royal fern family Osmundaceae - royal fern family Primitive ferns; 3 species of Osmunda in Wisconsin; All widespread & 1 genus in Wisconsin: Osmunda easily separated by position of fertile Bot 401 exam plants! portions Fertile and sterile leaves dimorphic
Osmunda cinnamomea Osmunda claytoniana Osmunda regalis Cinnamon fern Interrupted fern Royal fern 47 48
12 Phylum Polypodiophyta Phylum Polypodiophyta
Dennstaedtiaceae - bracken family Dennstaedtiaceae - bracken family Includes one of the most Clonal with rhizome; large Anti-mosquito and fly widespread of all vascular compound leaves. repellent plants. Ubiquitous in Wisconsin. Marginal sori with no indusia but with revolute (rolled over) leaf edge protecting sori.
Pteridium aquilinum Pteridium aquilinum Bracken fern Bracken fern 49 50
Phylum Polypodiophyta Phylum Polypodiophyta
Pteridaceae - maidenhair fern family Sori that lack indusia or are Aspleniaceae - spleenwort family 4 genera in Wisconsin protected by a reflexed or 1 genus in Wisconsin. Defined revolute margins by linear or kidney shaped sori.
Distinctively compound frond with dark purple stipe and rachis
Adiatum pedatum Asplenium viride Asplenium platyneuron Green spleenwort Maidenhair fern Ebony spleenwort
51 52
13 Phylum Polypodiophyta Phylum Polypodiophyta
Onocleaceae- sensitive fern family Dryopteridaceae - woodfern family
2 genera in Wisconsin (also Matteuccia – ostrich Onoclea sensibilis Large and diverse group of ferns; often broadly fern). Dimorphic fronds - sterile frond pinnately Sensitive fern defined to include other smaller families. 2 genera lobed. Fertile frond turning black. and 13 species in Wisconsin.
Polystichum acrostichoides Dryopteris intermedia Christmas fern Shield fern
53 54
Phylum Polypodiophyta Phylum Polypodiophyta
Polypodiaceae - rockcap family Salviniaceae (Azollaceae) – Western & SE coastal elements mosquito fern family 40 genera and over 500 Distinctive fronds: simple, species in tropics and pinnately lobed; leathery. Floating aquatic, reduced ferns with 2 subtropics, but a single Colonizes bare rock. ranked leaves, each 2 lobed. Symbiotic species in Wisconsin. relationship with N2 fixing blue green bacteria Anabaena azollae. Heterosporous!
Sori in two rows on each lobe. Polypodium virginianum Azolla mexicana & A. caroliniana Rockcap fern Floating fern 55 56
14