Lycophytes

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Learning Objectives

Sporophytes are the dominant generation with true leaves, roots and stems: link to an illustration

Leaves are microphylls having only one vein and are not associated with a leaf gap.

Non-seed plants which are either homosporous (Lycopodium) or heterosporous (Selaginella).

For club mosses, sporangia are borne on sporophylls. If sporophylls are grouped in terminal aggrgations these are called strobili.

For Selaginella, spores are borne in sporophylls which are always arranged into strobili. Plants are heterosporous.Megasporophylls and microsporophylls are found together in the same strobius.

Recognize club mosses, and the genus, Selaginella