What does "pteridophyta" mean?

Pteridophyta: A class of flowerless plants, embracing ferns, horsetails, club mosses, quillworts, and other like plants. See the Note under Cryptogamia. -- Pter"i*do*phyte`, n. Note: This is a modern term, devised to replace the older ones acrogens and vascular Cryptogamia.

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