Which one of the following is considered important in the development of seed habit
Or
Selaginella has the character of evolutionary importance. That character is

Options

A. Haplontic life cycle
B. Fee-living gametophyte
C. Dependent sporophyte
D. Heterospory

Answer

To answer the question regarding the evolutionary importance of Selaginella and the development of seed habit, we can break down the solution into several steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Question**:
- The question asks about the evolutionary importance of Selaginella and which character is significant in the development of the seed habit.

2. **Identifying the Options**:
- The options provided are:
a) Haplontic life cycle
b) Free living gametophyte
c) Dependent sporophyte
d) Heterospory

3. **Analyzing Each Option**:
- **Haplontic Life Cycle**: This refers to a life cycle where the main phase is haploid. While some plants exhibit this, it is not a defining characteristic of Selaginella.
- **Free Living Gametophyte**: This describes gametophytes that are independent and not reliant on the sporophyte. This is more characteristic of bryophytes rather than Selaginella.
- **Dependent Sporophyte**: In this case, the sporophyte is dependent on the gametophyte. This is typical in pteridophytes but does not indicate the development of seed habit.
- **Heterospory**: This is the production of two types of spores: microspores (male) and megaspores (female). This is a significant evolutionary step towards the development of seeds.

4. **Conclusion**:
- The correct answer is **heterospory** (option d). Heterospory is crucial in the evolutionary transition towards seed habit, as it allows for the differentiation of male and female gametes, which is a key step in seed development.

### Final Answer:
The character of evolutionary importance in Selaginella is **heterospory**.

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