Which type of plants reproduce through spores and are vascular?

Ferns are vascular plants that reproduce through spores, distinguishing them from other plant groups. Being vascular means that ferns have specialized tissues, xylem and phloem, which enable them to transport water, nutrients, and food throughout the plant. This vascular system allows ferns to grow larger and in a variety of habitats, unlike non-vascular plants such as mosses which are limited in size and require moist environments for reproduction and survival.

Ferns typically produce spores in structures called sporangia, often found on the underside of their leaves, known as fronds. These spores can disperse through wind or water, leading to the establishment of new plants. This spore-based reproduction is a key characteristic of ferns, which differentiates them from flowering plants that reproduce through seeds.

Other options, such as mosses, reproduce through spores but lack vascular tissues, rendering them non-vascular plants. Flowers represent flowering plants that reproduce using seeds rather than spores. Algae, while they can reproduce via spores in some species, are generally not classified as vascular plants either. Thus, the defining features of ferns make them the correct answer for this question regarding vascular, spore-reproducing plants.