Gefäßpflanzen

Gefäßpflanzen, also known as vascular plants, constitute a large and diverse group of plants characterized by the presence of specialized tissues for the transport of water and nutrients. These tissues, xylem and phloem, form an internal vascular system that allows these plants to grow taller and colonize drier environments compared to non-vascular plants like mosses. The evolution of this vascular system was a pivotal step in plant diversification, enabling the development of more complex structures such as roots, stems, and leaves.

The vascular system in Gefäßpflanzen is crucial for their survival and success. Xylem transports water and dissolved minerals from the roots upwards to the rest of the plant, while phloem carries sugars produced during photosynthesis from the leaves to other parts of the plant for growth and storage. This efficient transport system supports larger plant bodies and allows for greater specialization of plant parts.

Gefäßpflanzen include all seed-bearing plants (gymnosperms and angiosperms) as well as spore-bearing plants like ferns, horsetails, and clubmosses. They exhibit a life cycle that typically involves alternation of generations, with a dominant sporophyte generation that is diploid and a less conspicuous gametophyte generation that is haploid. The sporophyte is responsible for producing spores, which develop into gametophytes, and the gametophytes produce gametes that fuse to form a zygote, initiating the next sporophyte generation. Their widespread distribution and ecological significance make them fundamental components of most terrestrial ecosystems.