Question

Four adaptations - cuticle, vascular tissue, seeds, and flowers - are key characters defining four major modern plant groups. Which group first evolved seeds?

a) Bryophytes
b) Pteridophytes
c) Gymnosperms
d) Angiosperms

Answer 1

Gymnosperms were the first plant group to evolve seeds, which allowed them to reproduce without water and gain a significant ecological advantage.

Step-by-step explanation:

The earliest evidence of plants with seeds comes from the gymnosperms. When discussing the evolution of major plant groups, gymnosperms were the first to evolve seeds. This adaptation allowed them to reproduce without the need for water, a significant advantage in many environments. Therefore, the correct answer to the question 'Which group first evolved seeds?' is c) Gymnosperms.

Let's review the plant groups mentioned:

• Bryophytes - These are non-vascular plants like mosses that do not have seeds.
• Pteridophytes - Includes ferns and their relatives; they are seedless but have vascular tissue.
• Gymnosperms - The first seed plants, which include conifers like pines and spruces.
• Angiosperms - Also known as flowering plants, these evolved after gymnosperms and their seeds are contained within fruits.

Thus, gymnosperms possess a critical adaptation in the history of plant evolution, setting the stage for the success of terrestrial plants.