In the Great Australian Desert, rainfall averages about 30 centimetres per year. Yet, it is not uncommon when hiking in this extremely arid zone to encounter mosses and ferns. One such plant is called "flower of stone". It is not a flowering plant, nor does it produce seeds. Under arid conditions, its leaflike structures curl up. However, when it rains, it unfurls its leaves, which form a bright green rosette on the desert floor. Consequently, it is sometimes called the "resurrection plant". At first glance, it could be a fern, a true moss, or a spike moss.
-Upon closer inspection of the leaves of "flower of stone", one can observe tiny, cone-like structures. Each cone-like structure emits spores of two different sizes. Further investigation also reveals that the roots of "flower of stone" branch only at the growing tip of the root, forming a Y-shaped structure. Consequently, which of the following is the closest living relative of "flower of stone"?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The presence of cone-like structures that emit spores of two different sizes is a characteristic of club mosses. "Flower of stone" also has roots that branch only at the growing tip, a Y-shaped structure, which is another characteristic of club mosses. Therefore, the closest living relative of "flower of stone" is a club moss.

In the Great Australian Desert, Rainfall Averages About 30 Centimetres