The first plants to appear after a forest fire are the ferns, this is because of the survival of their

Options

A. Spores
B. Leaves
C. Rhizomes
D. Both fronds and rhizomes

Answer

To solve the question regarding why ferns are the first plants to appear after a forest fire, we can break down the reasoning step by step.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding the Question**: The question asks why ferns are the first plants to emerge after a forest fire. This implies that we need to identify a specific survival mechanism that allows ferns to thrive in such conditions.

2. **Identifying the Plant Type**: Ferns are a type of vascular plant known as pteridophytes. They reproduce via spores and have a life cycle that includes both a sporophyte and a gametophyte stage.

3. **Survival Mechanism**: The key to ferns' survival after a fire lies in their underground structures. Ferns have rhizomes, which are horizontal underground stems. These rhizomes can survive extreme conditions, including high temperatures from forest fires.

4. **Function of Rhizomes**: Rhizomes serve several important functions:
- They store nutrients and energy, which can be utilized for regrowth after a disturbance.
- They anchor the plant in the soil, providing stability.
- They remain intact even when the above-ground parts of the plant are destroyed by fire.

5. **Conclusion**: After a forest fire, the surviving rhizomes of ferns allow them to quickly regenerate and grow new shoots, making them one of the first plants to reappear in the ecosystem.

6. **Final Answer**: The correct answer to the question is that the first plants to appear after a forest fire are ferns due to the survival of their **rhizomes**.