The first groups of land plants to evolve were liverworts, mosses, and hornworts. These plants were small and grew close to the ground because they relied on water being able to move on its own through the plant bodies. The next groups of land plants to evolve were ferns, which could grow bigger and taller because they could transport water and food.

Question

What trait most likely evolved in ferns that was not present in the earlier groups?

cuticles
seed shells
vascular tissues

photosynthesis

Answer 1

The trait that most likely evolved in ferns, which was not present in earlier groups like liverworts, mosses, and hornworts, is vascular tissues. Vascular tissues allow for the efficient transport of water and nutrients throughout the plant, enabling ferns to grow larger and taller compared to the earlier non-vascular plants.