Phylum Pteridophyta
By Aarav Nachiappan and Damon Stuchbury
Photo taken by Laura Stuchbury
What are Pteridophytes?
• Pteridophyta is the phylum that comprises of vascular (consisting of a
vessel or vessels) plants that release spores instead of flowers or seeds.
• This, put simply, refers to ferns, horsetails, and lycophytes.
• An organism of the pteridophyta phylum is called a pteridophyte
• The word is derived from the Greek words
• 'Pteris', meaning fern.
• 'Phuton', meaning plant.
• Altogether 'pteridophyte' means 'fern plant'.
Pteridophyte Fact File
Statistic type Pteridophyta
statistic
Kingdom Plantae.
Featured/key Ferns, horsetails,
Species lycophytes.
Height Range <1cm – ~30m.
Also known as Cryptogams.
Pronounced Te-ri-doe-fye-ta
Key Features of
Pteridophytes
•They do not reproduce
with seeds.
•They are vascular plants.
•They have spores that appear
as brown dots on the underside
of their leaves.
•Comprises of roots, stems,
and leaves.
•Multicellular
and photosynthetic.
•Contains a vascular system that
transports water through them
Deeper Understanding of 3 Key Features
1. They do not reproduce with seeds • These 3 are the main features of
Pteridophtya reproduces with spores from underneath their leaves. pteridophyta. The other features relate to
They have brown spots also on the spores.
this one way or another.
• Below are the characteristics in a picture.
2. They are vascular plants
Vascular plants are plants that get food, water, products of
photosynthesis and nutrients from a vascular tissue. There are two
types of tissues which are xylem and phloem.
3. Multicellular and photosynthetic
Like all plants it has more than one cell and gets it energy from the
process called photosynthesis. For photosynthesis, a plant need
Carbon Dioxide, Water and Sunlight.
Fern Facts
Other facts
Fern Statistics • Ferns don't have flowers; in fact, they don't
even have leaves. They have fronds.
Type of fact/statistic Fern statistics
• Some ferns are edible and can be medicine.
Number of species 10,620
Other fern tree bark can be used for building
material.
Discovery of ferns About 400 million years
ago • Ferns are found all over the world other than
Antartica
Amount of genera 587 • Though it is believed that Antartica had ferns
many 1000s of years ago when its
temperature was warmer.
Amount of family 48
• Ferns are one of the few species that can
adapt anywhere in the world.
Tallest fern Dixonia Antartica
• Some ferns can be poisonous to us humans,
pets and farm animals.
Smallest fern Azolla Cristata
• Did you also know that some ferns lead to a
parasitic life as well.
Key parts of
a fern
Fun Fact
Did you know that ferns are believed
to be the oldest plants on Earth?
It is even believed to have come
before dinosaurs!
Species within phylum
Pteridophyta
Cyathea Cooperi
(Australian Tree Fern)
• The Cyathea Cooperi is commonly called the
Australian tree fern
• Its origin is from NSW and QLD and it has a dark
shade of green on top with a pale set of green
underneath.
• It grows between 4.572 meters to 9.144 meters with
a spread between 2.4384 meters and 4.572 meters.
• Its habitat is upright and in a rainforest kind of
environment.
• For it to grow the best it needs to be somewhere
where it is partially to fully shaded.
• This plant is great for backyards and patios.
Phlebodium aureum
(Blue Star Fern)
• The Phlebodium aureum is commonly known as
blue star fern. Though it has other names such as
Gold Foot fern or Golden Polypody .
• Its origins from central and south of America.
• It reaches heights between 0.5 and 1 meter.
• It needs a bright indirect sunlight. Which means it
can't have direct sunlight
• It mostly grows attached on trees where most light
is blocked out.
• Its habitat is in forests where not much light is
there, but it does appreciate light
• These plants can be household plants and looks
good around the house
Cyathea Australis
(Rough Tree Fern)
• The Cyathea Australis is commonly known as Kingdom: Plantae
the rough tree fern. Phylum: Pteridophyta
• As the name suggests it is native
Class: Polypodiophyta
to Australia (Cyathea Australis).
• It comes from as high as Rockingham and as
low as Tasmania
• It comes from the fern family of Cyatheaceae.
• This fern can grow up to 10 meters in its natural Order: Cyatheales
habitat. (between 7 and 10 meters) Family: Cyatheaceae
• Its natural habitat is in mountainous rainforests. Genus: Alsophila
• It has a temperature range of –7 to 36 degrees Species: Australis
Celsius.
• In its habitat it lives in full shade to full sun.
• It does not tolerate salty soils.
Woodwardia
(Chain Fern)
• The Woodwardia is commonly called the chain fern due to
how it looks.
• It is a deciduous, colony – forming and a waxing
green fern
• It is native to North America but is most frequently
found in moist woodlands across the West Coast
• Its height is between 0.9144 meters and 2.4384 meters.
• In its habitat it lives in a part shade, part sun kind of area.
• It can be grown at home in containers which is one special
feature
• It has a water use as medium, high
• The species in classified as "sensitive " which means the
species wild population is vulnerable or declining
Poisonous species within phylum
Pteridophyta
Asparagus
Aethiopicus
(Asparagus Fern)
• The Asparagus Aethiopicus is poisonous to cats
• It is poisonous if cats made contact or eat it
• It is also known as the asparagus fern
• They are an annual plant meaning then begin the life cycle in spring.
• They are also a perennial plant which means they live for over 2
years
• Special features:
- Good for container
- Attracts birds
- Easy maintenance
• It performs the best in originally rich, well-drained soil
• It usually likes room temperature climates (21 1/9 degrees Celsius).
Though it can't live below 12 7/9 degrees Celsius.
Densiflorus sprengery
(Emerald Fern)
• The emerald fern as it is commonly known now, is
poisonous to dogs and humans
• Its poison cause gastrointestinal symptoms like
vomiting and diarrhea.
• It can give these symptoms out if the foliage is
ingested.
• It has a temperature range of 15 to 26 degrees
Celsius
• For it to live it needs a bright, indirect light from the
sun.
• It prefers high humidity levels
• If you are maintaining this at home you need to trim
off yellow stems, time to time for new stems to grow.
• It needs moderate water due to its thick stems
Species of Interest:
Cinnamon Fern
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
Cinnamon Fern Classification
•Kingdom: Plantae
•Phylum: Pteridophyta
•Class: Polypodiopsida
•Order: Osmundales
•Family: Osmundaceae
•Genus: Osmudastrum
•Species: Osmundustrum
cinnemomeum
Cinnamon Fern Facts
• Scientific name:
Osmundastrum cinnamomeum
• Dimensions:
Height: 0.3m - 0.9m / Width: 0.6m - 0.9m
• Colour:
Green.
• Seasonal features:
Leaves turn golden-yellow in the Autumn
Cinnamon Fern
Facts
Description:
Features large, bright green fronds
which are spread out to form a vase –
shape clump.
• Cinnamon ferns are called that not because of its aroma
but its cinnamon coloured fibers at the base of the plant.
• Cinnamon ferns are native to North America and are most
likely still found there.
• It survives in a part sun, part shade but mainly thrives in a
shady moist area.
• It is a perennial plant meaning it lives for over 2 years.
• It has lots of colours with its spores starting with green but
slowing changing to a good contrast of brown. After
shedding spores in late summer, they shine green until the
end of summer. Then they turn yellow before the process
starts again.
• Its special features is that it is easy to maintain.
• Its soil pH (potential Hydrogen) acid is (<6.0).
• It has a rapid growth rate.
Fun Fact
Did you know that cinnamon ferns are one of the
few ferns to have 2 distinct colours quickly (in
this case it turns from green to brown quickly in
spring)?
Why we find the cinnamon fern interesting
•The main reason we find it interesting is because
of the shape it is set out in and its colour. The
colour is interesting because it changes from green
to brown quickly. Its shape is that curved,
intriguing kind of plant. This plant has that shape
due to contrast of fronds. We also found out that it
is not called the cinnamon fern because of its smell
but for its cinnamon-colored fiber at the base.
Video on Pteridophyta
A quick recap (0:40 to 1:00)
Quiz
Rules
• 1 person from each House
• 4 Questions
• Get it correct 1 point
• Get in wrong –1 point
• We'll read the questions and you call
out the answers.
• Winner earns bragging rights
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