Final answer:
Vascular tissue in plants consists of xylem and phloem, which enables plants to transport nutrients and grow tall. Nonvascular plants like bryophytes don't have this system and are typically found in moist areas. Seedless vascular plants have vascular tissue but no seeds, while plants like gymnosperms and angiosperms have both.
Step-by-step explanation:
Vascular and Nonvascular Plants
Vascular tissue in plants, known as tracheophytes, includes xylem and phloem. These tissues allow for the transport of water, minerals, and nutrients, and are crucial for supporting larger plant structures.
Nonvascular plants, which lack this specialized tissue, include bryophytes such as mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. They do not possess true roots, stems, or leaves and are generally found in moist environments.
Seedless Vascular Plants
While vascular systems enabled plants to attain heights and complexity, not all have seeds. Vascular seedless plants include ferns, horsetails, club mosses, and whisk ferns. These plants possess the necessary vascular tissues but reproduce through spores instead of seeds.
Plants with Vascular Tissue and Seeds
Plants that have both vascular tissue and produce seeds are categorized into two main groups: gymnosperms and angiosperms. Gymnosperms, like conifers, have seeds that are not enclosed by a fruit, while angiosperms, or flowering plants, produce seeds within fruits.
Evolution of Plant Features
The evolution of plants saw the development of features in this order: vascular tissue, seeds, and then flowers. This progression enabled plants to adapt to various terrestrial environments, eventually leading to the diversity we observe today.