Question

Which plant group is considered the "amphibians of the plant kingdom" due to their requirement for water during fertilization?

• A. Pteridophytes
• B. Gymnosperms
• C. Bryophytes
• D. Angiosperms

Hint:

{Bryophytes = Amphibians of the plant kingdom} because they live on land but require {water for fertilization}.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Concept: Bryophytes are small, non-vascular plants that typically grow in moist and shaded environments. They include plants such as mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. These plants lack true roots, stems, and vascular tissues (xylem and phloem). Bryophytes are often referred to as the "amphibians of the plant kingdom" because although they live on land, they require water for sexual reproduction.
Step 1: Understanding why bryophytes need water.
During fertilization, the male gametes (sperm) of bryophytes are motile and must swim through a thin film of water to reach the female gamete (egg) present in the archegonium. Thus, the presence of water is essential for successful fertilization.
Step 2: Eliminating other options.

• Pteridophytes also require water for fertilization but are vascular plants and are not commonly called amphibians of the plant kingdom.
• Gymnosperms reproduce through seeds and pollen; fertilization does not require external water.
• Angiosperms are flowering plants where fertilization occurs through pollen tubes and does not require water.

Therefore, the plant group known as the "amphibians of the plant kingdom" is Bryophytes.