Phylum Filicinophyta

Filicinophyta, or Pteridophyta, better known as ferns, are plants with full-sized roots and leaves, but instead of having flowers or cones, produce spores. Ferns are distinguishable by the fact that they do not have much wood, but are all as wide as they are tall, and have very long, thin leaves along the entirety of the branches. There are currently three known living groups of Ferns, and a couple of known extinct ones. Not all ferns grow on land, some are aquatic or even grown on other trees. Some Ferns include the Eagle Fern of the Java Fern.

• Has vascularisation (i.e xylem and phloem)

• Have leaves, roots and stems (leaves are pinnate – consisting of large fronds divided into leaflets)

• Reproduce by releasing spores from clusters called sori on the underside of the leaves

• Examples include ferns