What is a whisk fern What was calamites Describe several use

What is a whisk fern? What was calamites? Describe several uses of horsetails. Given the description of elaters provided on p. 327, describe their function.

Solution

Whisk fern is skeleton fork fern. It has water- and food-conducting tissues but lacks true leaves and roots. Photosynthesis occurs in the aerial stems.

Calamites are tree-sized, spore-bearing plants that lived during the Carboniferous and Permian periods.

Horse tail is used as  herbal remedy to stop bleeding, heal ulcers and wounds, and treat tuberculosis and kidney problems

Elaters help in dispersal of spores to new location.