The first groups of land plants to evolve were liverworts, mosses, and hornworts. These plants were small and grew close to the ground because they relied on water being able to move on its own through the plant bodies. The next groups of land plants to evolve were ferns, which could grow bigger and taller because they could transport water and food. What trait most likely evolved in ferns that was not present in the earlier groups?

cuticles
seed shells
vascular tissues

photosynthesis