3 public questions tagged with this topic.
Salvinia is a heterosporous pteridophyte that produces both microspores (male) and megaspores (female).
Ref: NCERT Class 11 Biology Chapter 3: Plant Kingdom Pteridophytes - Structure and Life Cycle
Some pteridophytes (e.g., Selaginella, Salvinia) show heterospory, where microspores form male gametophytes and megaspores form female gametophytes. All gymnosperms are also heterosporous. Hence, the correct answer is "Pteridophytes and Gymnosperms".
Ref: NCERT Class 11 Biology Chapter 3: Plant Kingdom Pteridophytes - Structure and Life Cycle
Microspores formed via meiosis inside microsporangia located on microsporophylls assembled into pollen cones male strobili ephemeral. Each microspore haploid undergoes mitosis producing reduced male gametophyte pollen grain containing tube cell and generative cell dividing into two sperm before dispersal. Seed cones contain ovules with megasporangium nucellus protecting megaspore developing into female gametophyte. Anthers define angiosperm microsporangial clusters tetrasporangiate on stamen filament, megasporangia produce female lineage ovule. Distinction highlights heterospory segregation sexes spatially between cone types, facilitating outcrossing as pollen cones release clouds of wind-borne pollen transported toward isolated seed cones receptive via sugary micropyle droplets capturing efficiently.
Ref: Campbell Biology, 12th ed., Chapter 30: Microspores pollen cones male strobili microsporophylls
