Question

please provide information about Gnetophyta in your own words at least 50

including

physical characteristics ,reproduction ,Relationship with Humans, Fun Facts

Answer 1

Answer:

Gnetophyta:

The gnetophyta are a small group of vascular seed plants and include three genera - Ephedra, Gnetum & Welwitschia. Classification is as follows:

Kingdom	Plantae
Clade	Tracheophytes
Division	Gnetophytes
Class	Gnetopsidia

Physical characteristics:

• Scale like & strap shaped leaves ( Ephedra and Welwitschia)
• Reduced sporophylls
• tracheids with scalariform pits
• absence of scalariform pitting in primary xylem

Most species are dioecious (one individual plant produces either pollen producing or seed producing cones)

Reproduction:

• In order for fertilization to take place, a tube grows from the eggs to unite with the pollen tubes. The sperms are not motile.

Fun facts / Others:

• The gnetophyta are a strange group of plants exhibiting a number of flowering characteristics and have been treated as separate from other seed plants and grouped with gymnosperms ( because of the presence of vessel elements - their wood contain conducting cells).