Tracheophyten

Tracheophytes, also known as vascular plants, represent the dominant terrestrial plant group on Earth today. Their defining characteristic is the presence of specialized vascular tissues, namely xylem and phloem, which form an internal transport system throughout the plant. Xylem is responsible for conducting water and minerals from the roots to the rest of the plant, while phloem transports sugars produced during photosynthesis from the leaves to other parts where they are needed for growth or storage. This vascular system allows tracheophytes to grow taller and more complex than non-vascular plants like mosses.

The life cycle of tracheophytes typically involves alternation of generations, with a dominant diploid sporophyte stage and a reduced haploid gametophyte stage. Reproduction often involves the production of spores, which develop into the gametophyte, and then gametes, which fuse to form a zygote that grows into a new sporophyte. This group encompasses a vast diversity of plants, from small ferns and horsetails to giant trees. Tracheophytes are further divided into seedless vascular plants (e.g., ferns, horsetails) and seeded vascular plants (gymnosperms and angiosperms). The evolution of seeds and later flowers and fruits in seeded vascular plants represented significant advancements, contributing to their widespread ecological success.