Why must ferns, club mosses, and horsetails grow in moist surroundings?
Answer (3)
This occurs because of their fertilization. They grow there because they need water to carry cells to fertilize them so they can reproduce. They are not fertilized by wind or by bees like other plants, so they need to be in areas where there's a lot of water. This is just how they adapted to there environments.
Ferns, club mosses, and horsetails must grow in moist surroundings because their reproductive process depends on water. These plants reproduce via spores and need water for the flagellated sperm to swim to the egg for fertilization to occur. Thus, a moist environment is crucial for their life cycle to proceed properly.
Ferns, club mosses, and horsetails belong to a group of plants known as the pteridophytes, which are vascular but do not produce seeds. Instead, these plants reproduce through spores, which are released into the environment. For fertilization to happen, water is necessary because the flagellated sperm must swim through the water to reach the stationary eggs. This is why these plants are often found in damp, shady locations. The moisture in the air and soil is fundamental for the spores to germinate and for the sperm to travel and fertilize the egg. Without a moist environment, the reproductive cycle of these plants would be incomplete, leading to unsuccessful propagation of the species. Additionally, these plants often have thin cuticles and lack the extensive water-conserving adaptations found in more drought-tolerant plants, which further necessitates a moist habitat for their survival.
Ferns, club mosses, and horsetails thrive in moist surroundings primarily because their sperm need water to swim to the egg for fertilization. This requirement for water leads them to favor damp environments like forests and wetlands. Their adaptation over time has also made them suitable for such conditions, allowing them to flourish where moisture is abundant.
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