pteridophyte

American  

[tuh-rid-uh-fahyt, ter-i-doh-] / təˈrɪd əˌfaɪt, ˈtɛr ɪ doʊ- /

noun

1. any plant of the division Pteridophyta, characterized by vascular tissue and differentiation into root, stem, and leaves, comprising the ferns, horsetails, and club mosses.

---

pteridophyte British  

/ ˈtɛrɪdəʊˌfaɪt, ˌtɛrɪˈdɒfɪtəs, ˌtɛrɪdəʊˈfɪtɪk /

noun

1. (in traditional classification) any plant of the division Pteridophyta, reproducing by spores and having vascular tissue, roots, stems, and leaves: includes the ferns, horsetails, and club mosses. In modern classifications these plants are placed in separate phyla

---

pteridophyte Scientific  

/ tə-rĭd′ə-fīt′,tĕr′ĭ-dō- /

1. Any of various vascular plants that reproduce by spores rather than seeds; a seedless vascular plant. The pteridophytes include the lycophytes, the horsetails, and the ferns, as well as a small group of related plants called the psilophytes and several extinct phyla.

---

Other Word Forms

• pteridophytic adjective
• pteridophytous adjective

Etymology

Origin of pteridophyte

1875–80; < New Latin Pteridophyta; pterido-, -phyte

Example Sentences

Manual of the phanerogams and pteridophytes of western Texas.

From Project Gutenberg

The ferns constitute by far the greater number of pteridophytes, and their general structure corresponds with that of the maiden-hair fern described.

From Project Gutenberg

They are also commonly called flowering plants, though this name might be also appropriately given to certain of the higher pteridophytes.

From Project Gutenberg

The macrosporangia are also ordinarily known as “ovules,” a name given before it was known that these were the same as the macrosporangia of the higher pteridophytes.

From Project Gutenberg

The tree has a very perfect root system, but different from that of any pteridophytes.

From Project Gutenberg