Lycophyte

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/lycophyte

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Lycophyta
2. What is the key morphological feature?Possess microphylls, which are small leaves with a single vascular strand
3. What are lycophytes?Lycophytes are the oldest living plants on Earth. They belong to the division Lycophyta and were around before ferns and seed plants.
4. Why are lycophytes called ancient plant superstars?They started living on land during the Silurian period and became the dominant plants in many early forests. Their long history makes them super‑old plant superstars.

Microphylls: Small, simple leaves characteristic of lycophytes, distinguished by a single vascular strand.
Sporangia/Strobili: Structures where spores are produced (sporangia), often clustered into cone-like arrangements (strobili).
Gametophyte: The haploid stage in the plant life cycle that produces gametes; in lycophytes, it is a small, independent, photosynthetic organism.
Arborescent Lycophytes: Extinct, tree-sized lycophytes that were dominant in Carboniferous forests.