Importance of Seedless Plants
Jessica Harwood
Douglas Wilkin, Ph.D.
Say Thanks to the Authors
Click http://www.ck12.org/saythanks
(No sign in required)
To access a customizable version of this book, as well as other
interactive content, visit www.ck12.org
AUTHORS
Jessica Harwood
Douglas Wilkin, Ph.D.
EDITOR
Douglas Wilkin, Ph.D.
CK-12 Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to
reduce the cost of textbook materials for the K-12 market both in
the U.S. and worldwide. Using an open-source, collaborative, and
web-based compilation model, CK-12 pioneers and promotes the
creation and distribution of high-quality, adaptive online textbooks
that can be mixed, modified and printed (i.e., the FlexBook®
textbooks).
Copyright © 2015 CK-12 Foundation, www.ck12.org
The names “CK-12” and “CK12” and associated logos and the
terms “FlexBook®” and “FlexBook Platform®” (collectively
“CK-12 Marks”) are trademarks and service marks of CK-12
Foundation and are protected by federal, state, and international
laws.
Any form of reproduction of this book in any format or medium,
in whole or in sections must include the referral attribution link
http://www.ck12.org/saythanks (placed in a visible location) in
addition to the following terms.
Except as otherwise noted, all CK-12 Content (including CK-12
Curriculum Material) is made available to Users in accordance
with the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 3.0
Unported (CC BY-NC 3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/
licenses/by-nc/3.0/), as amended and updated by Creative Commons from time to time (the “CC License”), which is incorporated
herein by this reference.
Complete terms can be found at http://www.ck12.org/about/
terms-of-use.
Printed: April 14, 2015
CONTRIBUTORS
Doris Kraus, Ph.D.
Niamh Gray-Wilson
Jean Brainard, Ph.D.
Sarah Johnson
Jane Willan
Corliss Karasov
www.ck12.org
C HAPTER
Chapter 1. Importance of Seedless Plants
1
Importance of Seedless
Plants
• Describe ways seedless plants impact humankind.
Where does electricity come from?
You probably have noticed these huge power lines delivering electricity across the country. But how is this electricity
generated? Although there are some alternate sources like wind power and nuclear power, the majority of electricity
in the United States is generated by burning coal. Seedless plants were central in forming the coal deposits that we
depend on.
Importance of Seedless Plants
Seedless plants have been tremendously useful to humans. Without these plants evolving millions of years ago, life
as we know it would be very different.
Seedless Plants Became Coal
The greatest influence seedless plants have had on human society is in the formation of coal millions of years ago.
When the seedless plants died, became buried deep in the Earth, and were exposed to heat and pressure, coal formed.
Coal is essentially made of the fossilized carbon from these plants. Now coal is burned to provide energy, such as
electricity.
1
www.ck12.org
Current Uses
But some seedless plants still have uses in society today. Peat moss is commonly used by gardeners to improve
soils, since it is really good at absorbing and holding water ( Figure 1.1).
Depending on the location, ferns have several different uses worldwide. Ferns are found in many gardens as
ornaments, and are used as indoor plants. In tropical regions, the fern is used as a food source by many locals.
The fronds can also be used to weave hats and baskets. The fiddleheads of certain species of ferns are used in
gourmet food. Some species of ferns, such as the maidenhair fern, are used as medicines. In Southeast Asia, the fern
is used in rice fields as a biological fertilizer. Much of the world’s fossil fuels consist of remains of ferns and their
relatives.
The horsetail’s reedy exterior and silica content made it popular as a metal polisher and abrasive cleanser. Herbalists
still use horsetail to treat a variety of kidney/bladder problems, including inflammation, infection, and kidney stones,
and it is used as a remedy for brittle nails. Club moss is also used to treat kidney ailments and digestive problems.
Club moss spores can be dusted onto the skin and provide relief from itching and irritation, and provide the skin
with protection. Extinct forests of club moss have fossilized and developed into huge beds of coral.
FIGURE 1.1
Sphagnum, or peat moss, is commonly
added to soil to help absorb water, and
keep it in the soil.
Summary
• Seedless plants were responsible for the formation of coal millions of years ago.
• Two ways that gardeners utilize seedless plants are peat moss as a soil amendment and ferns as ornamental
plants.
Explore More
Use the resource below to answer the questions that follow.
• Coal Thickness Mystery at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdRlwKM4eIc (1:57)
2
www.ck12.org
Chapter 1. Importance of Seedless Plants
MEDIA
Click image to the left or use the URL below.
URL: http://www.ck12.org/flx/render/embeddedobject/57435
1. How does coal form?
2. Low sulfur coal produces less pollution when burned than high sulfur coal. Name one factor that affects the
sulfur content in coal.
3. How do scientists feel the Powder River Basin coal was formed?
Review
1. How was coal formed?
2. What is one use of ferns?
References
1. Nat Tarbox. Sphagnum, or peat moss, is commonly added to soil to help absorb water, and keep it in the soil
. CC BY 2.0
3