With their team of contemporary scholars, the editors present a thorough coverage of fundamental topics necessary for obtaining an up-to-date understanding of the biology of ferns and lycophytes. The book is organized into major topics that build from the individual and its biochemistry and structure, to genetics and populations, to interactions among individuals and the conservation of species, and concludes with perspectives on evolutionary history and classification. Each chapter is organized to review past work, explore current questions, and suggest productive directions for continued discoveries about these fascinating plants. Written for advanced undergraduates, graduates and academic researchers, Biology and Evolution of Ferns and Lycophytes fills a major gap in the literature on vascular land plants by providing a modern overview of the biology and evolution of this important group of organisms.