What type of plants reproduce through spores instead of seeds or flowers?

Ferns are a type of vascular plant that reproduces through spores rather than seeds or flowers. This reproductive method is characteristic of the group known as pteridophytes, which includes all ferns. Ferns have complex life cycles that include two distinct stages: the sporophyte, which is the leafy plant, and the gametophyte, which is often a small, heart-shaped structure that produces gametes.

In contrast to ferns, mosses also reproduce through spores, but they are classified as non-vascular plants. Angiosperms and gymnosperms, on the other hand, reproduce via seeds. Angiosperms produce flowers and fruits containing seeds, while gymnosperms typically have seeds that are not enclosed in an ovary, often found in cones. Thus, ferns stand out as a prominent example of plants that utilize spores for reproduction.