Selaginella and Salvinia are considered to represent a significant step towards evolution of seed habit because
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female gametophyte is free and gets dispersed like seeds
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female gametophyte lacks archegonia
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megaspores possess endosperm and embryo surrounded by a seed coat
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the embryo develops in female gametophyte which is retained on the parent sporophyte
D.
the embryo develops in female gametophyte which is retained on the parent sporophyte
Selaginella and Salvinia are heterosporous as they produce two kinds of spores - micro (small) spores and macro (large) spores. The microspores and megaspores germinate and give rise to male and female gametophyte in these plants and retained on the parent sporophytes for variable periods. The development of zygotes into young embryos takes place within the female gametophytes. This event is the precursor to the seed habit considered to an important step in evolution.