(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
Derived forms
pteridophytic (ˌtɛrɪdəʊˈfɪtɪk) or pteridophytous (ˌtɛrɪˈdɒfɪtəs)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from pterido-, from Greek pteris fern + -phyte
pteridophyte in American English
(ˈtɛrɪdoʊˌfaɪt)
noun
in some systems of plant classification, any of a division (Pteridophyta) of plantspossessing true vascular roots, stems, and leaves and reproducing by means of spores, including theferns and lycopods
Derived forms
pteridophytic (ˌpteriˌdoˈphytic) (ˈtɛrɪdoʊˈfɪtɪk)
adjective or ˌpteriˈdophytous (ˈtɛrɪˈdɑfɪtəs)
Word origin
< ModL Pteridophyta < Gr pteris (see pteridology) + -phyte