A botanist discovers a new species of land plant with a dominant sporophyte, chlorophylls a and b, and cell walls made of cellulose. In assigning this plant to a phylum, which of the following, if present, would be least useful?

a. endosperm

b. seeds

c. sperm that lack flagella

d. flowers

e. spores

e. spores

Explanation:

In the given question, the characteristics of a plant are mentioned which are the dominant sporophyte, cell wall and the Chl a or b.

It is mentioned that the plant has a dominant sporophyte therefore it produces the spores during its life cycle. The other features like the endosperm, seeds, flowers are the characteristics on the basis of which the plant can be characterised as they differ in the plants.

Since the production of spores is a characteristic feature of the sporophyte, therefore, it will be least considered by the botanist to discover a new species.

Thus, Option-E is the correct answer.