Plants reproducing by spores such as mosses and ferns are grouped under the general term

Explanation

a. Plants that reproduce by spores, such as mosses and ferns, are grouped under the general term "Cryptogams." Cryptogams refer to a diverse group of non-seed plants, including bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) and pteridophytes (ferns and their relatives), that reproduce via spores and do not produce seeds. This term is used to categorize plants that don't have the reproductive structures associated with seed-bearing plants (phanerogams). Other options are explained below: b. Bryophytes: This term specifically refers to non-vascular plants, including mosses, liverworts, and hornworts. Bryophytes reproduce through spores, and they lack true vascular tissues. c. Sporophytes: This term refers to the diploid, spore-producing phase in the life cycle of plants that undergo alternation of generations. It's a broader term that includes both vascular and non-vascular plants. d. Thallophytes: This term historically referred to a group of plants with a thallus-like structure, including algae, fungi, and lichens. However, it's not commonly used in modern classifications.