A996, Gifford and Foster in the new cdition of their book modified the formcr
classification again (1989) and recognize several divisions of vascular plants instead
of only one.Basing on origin of vascular plants, former classes have been raised to
divisional status. According to them, though phylogenctic schemes are best and
shasyaNtative but there is also absence of convincing phyletic interconncctions between
(Ploridophyta)
Cryptogams
Vascular shifted
Introductionto classification, they
22 An mercly by
system of (divisions)
plants. In this ncw catcgorics charactersthat
various groups of vascular ordcr to higher
division have
lower taxa (classes) or cven an The plantsin cach them from thosc in
other
changing the sufix of certain namcs. differentiate betwccn
cstablishing
used to comparisons and for
are recognizable and can be bases for making of vascular cryptogams
divisions as well as provide the classification
ter.tative phylogenetic relationship.The system of
is stated befow ;
1. Division-Rhymiophyta -(all cxtinct)
Horneophyton
cg. Rhynia, Cooksohia,
cxtinct)
2. Division-Zosterophyllophyta (all
c.g Zosterophyllum, Buchereria.
3. Division-Trimerophyta (all cxtinct)
cg. Trimerophyton, Psilophyton
4. Division-Psilophyta (extant members)
e.g. Psiiotum, Tmesipteris
Division-Lycophyta (Microphyllophyta) (extinct and extant) Isoetes etc.
5. Lepidodendron, Lycopodium, Selaginella,
cg. Protolepidodndron,
except Equisetum)
6. Division-Sphenophyta (all extinct
Equisetum.
C.g. Sphenophyllum, Calamites,
Division-Filicophyta (Pteridophyta) (extinct and extant members)
7
c.g. All ferns.
extinct)
8. Division-Progymnospermophyta (all
e.g. Archeopteris, Aneurophyton ctc.
1. Division-Rhyniophyta
(ii) Plants are rootless
(i) All members are extinct.
(iúi) Plants are leafless (iv) Dichotomously branched acrial shoots.
(v) Sporangia are terminal
eg Rhynia, Cooksonia, Horneophyton
2. Division-Zosterophyllophyta
(i) Members are extinct (ii) Plants are rootless
(i) Rhizome profusely branched () Acrial shoots devojd of leaves
(v) Sporangia arc borne on the apiccs of lateral branches.
e.g. Zosteropphyllum, Buchereria,
3. Division-Trimcrophytophyta
mcmbers (ii) Plants are rootless
() All extinct
lcaflcss
(ii) Plants are
Classification
Pteridophyta of
Division-Sphenophyta 6. Division-Lycophyta
(Microphyllophyta)5. Division-Psilophyta 4.
hyta
phyta)7. (vii)
protostelic
(vi) (V) ()
(vi) (v) (iv) (iii) (ii) (i) (vi) (v) (iv) (iii) (ii) (i) (ix) (i)Vasculaturc (V) (iv) (ii) (i)
(i) Sporangia
several
thick.
cclls Rhizoids
Acrial Trimerophyton,
Psilophyton
Mcmbers e.g. Spirally
Both shoots.
acrial
of e.g. strobilus.
Either
endosporic.
Vasculature Sporangia
Plants All Extinct Include
Sporophytic
Branching Spores Sporangia
Sporangia outgrowth Sporophytic
SporangiaLeavcsWhorls
thngiophore
extinct shoots
ct arc of
rhizome have Lycopodium,
homosporous both
homosporous arise are
arranged
are
are are or
members-Protolepidodendron,
are lcavcs
undcrground, membcrs protostclic associated
pseudomonopodial plant
cxtinct terminal reduced
branched
plantextant terminal
in
and microphyllous and not
whichbornc tufts body lateral
ant and acrial selaginella, body associated
and and lcaves. from in
arc in cxcept or with and differentiatcd branchcs
position
groups whorls or differcntiated extant arrange dichotomously,
again may rhizome
ers. and shoots much one, siphonostclic heterosporous,sporophyll,
or wi th
of branchcd Isoeies, membcrs in occur divide
organizcd atstems branches e.g. dichotomous any (ii)
the differentiated into tctrads. into
kisolitary
n d cither Plants di
peltate are Equisetum. Phylloglossum,
Lepidodendron, may acrial or
into with perennial root, e.g. of
arisc gametophytes or or nakcd arc trichotomously
terminal disc with shoots
into ma y stem Psilotum, sporophylls. in rootlcss
longitudinal from rhizome
of microphyllous and groups or
nodcs Stylites. not with and
concs stalk nodes Lepidocarpon cither
and aggregated lcaves, Tmesipteris. rhizome
e which Sporangium small
ridges.
onlikalternatcly.
the
structure internodes. exosporic leaves. spinuous
aerial
bears
ctc. to 23
number form wall
shoots.called or
(Pteridophyta)
24
to Vascular Cryptogams
An Introduction
(ii) Wide cpiphytes.
range of habitat, aquatic, terrestrial to
(iii) Rhizome be dichotomously branched.
crccping or crcct, may functions-photosynthcsis and
(iv) Loaves arc megaphyllous performing dual
reproduction. siphonostclic.
(v) Mostly siphonostclic, or dictyostelic, cven polycyclic
or leptosporangiate type
(vi) Sporangial development may cusporangiatc
(vii) Majority homosporous, somes are hcterosporous.
Polypodium, Azolla, Salvinia, Marsillea ctc. arc extant
N, Dryopteris,
members.
8. Division-Progymnospermophyta.
(i) All members arc cxtinct.
branchcd.
(0) Plants werc arborcsccnt in habit and profuscly
(iii) Sccondary growth present.
Utimatc branches cither naked or covercd with microphyllous leaves which
(Iv)
showcd various degrce of flattening
(v) Frcc sporing (without secds)
Plants had gymnospermic secondary wood and ptcridophytic reproduction.
(vi)
e.g. Archeopteris, Aneurophyton ctc.
classification proposcd by Spornc
In dcaling with the different pteriodophytic groups the
(1970) has bccn largcly followed in this book.
