lycophyte

(noun)

a tracheophyte subdivision of the Kingdom Plantae; the oldest extant (living) vascular plant division at around 410 million years old; it includes some of the most 'primitive' extant species

Related Terms

Examples of lycophyte in the following topics:

  • The Major Divisions of Land Plants

    • These early plants were probably most similar to modern day lycophytes, which include club mosses (not to be confused with the mosses), and pterophytes, which include ferns, horsetails, and whisk ferns.
    • Lycophytes and pterophytes are both referred to as seedless vascular plants because they do not produce any seeds.

  • Ferns and Other Seedless Vascular Plants

    • Lycophytes follow the pattern of alternation of generations seen in the bryophytes, except that the sporophyte is the major stage of the life cycle.
    • Lycophytes can be homosporous or heterosporous.