Question

A botanist discovers a new species of plant in a tropical rain forest. After observing its anatomy and life cycle, he notes the following characteristics: flagellated sperm, xylem with tracheids, separate gametophyte and sporophyte generations with the sporophyte dominant, and no seeds. This plant is probably most closely related to _____.

Answer 1

The question is incomplete as it does not have the options which are:

a. mosses.

b. charophytes.

c. ferns.

d. gymnosperms.

e. flowering plants.

Answer:

C. ferns.

Explanation:

In the given question, the characteristics of a newly identified species were provided which are:

1.  Flagellated sperm: shows that it is either a bryophyte or pteridophyte

2. Dominant sporophyte: chances that it is a pteridophyte

3.The xylem and tracheids: shows that vascular bundle is present which confirms that it is pteridophyte

4. No seeds: confirms that the plant is pteridophyte as vascular bundles with no seed are pteridophyte.

Therefore in the given question, the identified plant is a pteridophyte which in the given option is a fern.

Thus, Option-C is correct.