Final answer:
True, Lepidodendron were large club mosses of the Lycopodiophyta phylum which had scaly bark and reproduced using spores instead of seeds. They formed significant parts of ancient forests that contributed to today’s coal deposits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that Lepidodendron are considered large club mosses that have scaly "bark" and did not have seeds is true. These ancient plants belong to the phylum Lycopodiophyta, which includes the quillworts, the club mosses, and the spike mosses. Notably, none of these plants produce seeds. During the Carboniferous period, around 300 million years ago, Lepidodendron species differed greatly from today's club mosses—they were large, tree-like plants reaching up to 35 meters in height, which is quite different from the small, understory club mosses we know today. These plants were vascular, having tissue meant for transporting water and nutrients, but instead of seeds, they reproduced using spores. The remains of these ancient forest-formers significantly contributed to the coal deposits we find today, linking their importance to both biology and geology.
Lepidodendron's scaly bark was part of their distinctive appearance, resembling scales or the skin of a reptile, and helped with identification in fossil records. Club mosses are often mistakenly thought to be closely related to actual mosses, due to their name and superficial appearance. However, they are vascular plants and not bryophytes like true mosses. Additionally, some species of modern club mosses are known as 'ground cedar' because of their resemblance to cedars, displaying scale-like leaves that are tightly applied to their stems.