Seedless vascular plants are pteridophytes. Economic
importance of pteridophytes are
(i) Pteridophytes are a good source of food for animals.
For example, sporocarps of Marsilea is edible. ,
Angiopteris and Alsophila have starchy pith eaten by I
natives of Australia.
(ii) Ferns protect soil from erosion by providing a good
cover on the hill slopes and other fragile places.
(iii) Azolla a water fern has a symbiotic association with
nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena azollae. It
is cultured in paddy fields to harbour nitrogen-fixing
bacterium. Thus, act as a biofertiliser.
(iv) Rhizomes and petioles of Dryopteris are used to
produce anthelmintic drug. Roots of Adiantum can
cure throat infections. Lycopodium is used in treatment
of rheumatism and disorders of lungs and kidneys.
(v) Ferns are also grown as ornamental plants for their
graceful plant body.