n. Any of numerous vascular plants that reproduce by means of spores rather than seeds, including the ferns and related plants such as horsetails, and sometimes the club mosses. [From New Latin Pteridophyta, former division name : Greek pteris, pterid-, fern; see PTERIDOLOGY + Greek phuton, plant; see -PHYTE.] pte·rid′o·phytic (tə-rĭd′ə-fĭtĭk, tĕr′ĭ-dō-), pter′i·dophy·tous (tĕr′ĭ-dŏfĭ-təs) adj. |
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