Question

derived characters

1. seeds are a derived character of the spermatophytes. all of the plants in this clade reproduce using seeds. however, embryo formation is also a trait of the spermatophytes. do you think true water - conducting tissue is a derived character of either embryophytes or green algae? why or why not?

Explanation:

True water - conducting tissue is a derived character of tracheophytes (a group within embryophytes), not of green algae. Green algae lack true vascular tissue for water - conduction. Embryophytes include tracheophytes which have this tissue, but it is not present in all embryophytes (e.g., mosses and relatives lack true water - conducting tissue). So it is not a derived character of all embryophytes but of a subgroup within them.

Answer:

True water - conducting tissue is not a derived character of green algae as they lack vascular tissue for water - conduction. It is a derived character of tracheophytes (a subgroup within embryophytes), not all embryophytes.