1. Pteridophytes are known as first vascular and true land plants.
2. Habitat: Pteridophytes grow in moist and shady places, e.g. Ferns, Horsetail. Some are aquatic (Azolla, Marsilea), xerophytic (Equisetum) and epiphytic (Lycopodium).
3. Plant body: It is differentiated into root, stem and leaves.
4. Primary root: The primary root is short lived and is soon replaced by adventitious roots.
5. Stem: The stem may be aerial or underground.
6. Leaves: This group contains plants with pinnate (feather – like) leaves. Leaves may be scaly (e.g. Equisetum), simple and sessile (e.g. Lycopodium), small (microphylls e.g. Selaginella) or large (macrophylls) and pinnately compound (e.g. Nephrolepis l Ferns).
7. Vascular tissues: In these members xylem consists of only tracheids and phloem consists of only sieve cells.
8. Secondary growth: Secondary growth is not seen in pteridophytes due to absence of cambium.
9. Alternation of generations: Pteriodphytes show heteromorphic alternation of generations in which the sporophyte is diploid, dominant, autotrophic and independent. Gametophyte is haploid multicellular, generally autotrophic and short lived.
