Question

How do the main similarities and differences between seedless vascular plants and nonvascular plants affect function in these plants?

Short answer

Seedless vascular plants possess true leaves and roots that give them more surface area to perform photosynthesis than seedless non-vascular plants.

Both seedless vascular and non-vascular plants contain flagellated sperm that require moisture for fertilization. Due to this characteristic, they face challenges to survive in arid regions.

Step-by-step solution

Seedless vascular and non-vascular plants

The tissues that help transfer nutrients and minerals in plants are called xylem (help in water transport) and phloem (help in food transport), called vascular tissues.

The plants that neither contain seeds nor vascular tissues are called seedless non-vascular plants like liverworts and mosses. The plants that contain vascular tissues but not seeds are called seedless vascular plants like horsetails and lycophytes.

Difference between seedless vascular and non-vascular plants

Seedless vascular plants contain vascular tissues, a trait that is absent in non-vascular plants (bryophytes). This trait enables vascular plants to transport nutrients and minerals.

Seedless vascular plants contain lignified and well-defined vascular tissues that allow sporophytes to grow and transform life on earth.

Similarity between seedless vascular and non-vascular plants

Flagellated sperms are the structures that are present in both seedless vascular and non-vascular plants. They require moisture for fertilization (mating of male and female gamete). This similarity makes them face challenges in dry conditions due to a lack of water.

Both plants have chloroplasts and green pigments. They can trap sunlight and perform photosynthesis, thereby making plants the primary producers for other living creatures of the earth.