Psilotum

Scientific name: Psilotum
Common name: Whisk fern
Classification:
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Psilophyta
Class: Psilotopsida
Order: Psilotales
Family: Psilotaceae
Genus: Psilotum
Characteristic features:
• Psilotum grows as an epiphyte in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
• Plant body is distinguished into two parts: rhizomes and aerial branches.
• The stems are the organs that contain photosynthetic and conducting tissue.
• Synangium is a trilocular, or three chambered, spore bearing structure in Psilotum. It
is considered as a fusion product of three sporangia.
Location: Axils of foliar leaves on aerial shoot.
• The synangium wall has three to four layers.
• The epidermis is made of a thick outer wall.
• Inner wall separates the 3 locules.
• It releases spores when it splits along the three longitudinal lines of dehiscence on the
locules.
Content citation: Botany for Degree students - Pteridophyta by Dr. P.C Vashishta, Dr. A.K.
Sinha & Dr. Anil Kumar