Question

Mark the correct statement about Selaginella.

• A. Macrophylls are a characteristic feature of Selaginella.
• B. The spores germinate to give rise free-living, multicellular thalloid gametophytes.
• C. The sporophytes bear sporangia, which produce spores mitotically in the spore mother cells.
• D. It is a homosporous plant, meaning it can produce only one type of spores.

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

The leaves in Pteridophyta are small (microphylls) as in Selaginella or large (macrophylls) as in ferns. The sporophytes bear sporangia that are subtended by leaf-like appendages called sporophylls. In some cases, sporophylls may form distinct compact structures called strobili or cones. The sporangia produce spores by meiosis in spore mother cells. The spores germinate to give rise to inconspicuous, small but multicellular, free-living, mostly photosynthetic thalloid gametophytes called prothallus.
Heterospory is observed as both small and large spores are produced.