Selaginella and Salvinia are considered to represent a significant step towards the evolution of seed habit because:
Embryo develops in female gametophyte which is retained on parent sporophyte.
Female gametophyte is free and gets dispersed like seeds.
Female gametophyte lacks archegonia.
Megaspores possess endosperm and embryo surrounded by a seed coat.
in heterosporous pteridophytes like Selaginella and Salvinia, the female gametophytes are retained on the parent sporophytes for variable periods. The development of the zygotes into young embryos takes place within the female gametophytes. This event is considered a precursor to the seed habit and is an important step in evolution .
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