Block 4: Tracheophytes or Vascular plants

Introduction

Vascular plants also known as Tracheophytes and also higher plants, form a large group of plants that are defined as those land plants that have lignified tissues (the xylem) for conducting water and minerals throughout the plant. They also have (non-lignified) tissue to conduct products of photosynthesis. Beside these major characteristics, vascular plants exhibit other features that enable them to be considered as the most adapted to land life. This block is an overview of the major vascular plant groups with their adaptive characteristics their ecological and economic importance.