Plants Kingdom Plantae

Plant Characteristics Eukaryotic and multicellular Autotrophs = make own food by photosynthesis – Some are carnivorous Have cell walls

Life Cycle Alternates between sexual phase (gametophyte) and asexual phase (sporophyte)

Plant Parts Main Organs: – Leaves – Roots – Stems – Flower

Leaves Function: – Absorb sunlight for photosynthesis – Gas exchange (O 2 and CO 2 ) through stomata

Leaves Adaptations: – Stomata = prevent water loss – Specialized adaptations due to location Rainforest floor – Broad leaves Desert – spines prevent water loss and protect plant Cold climates - needles

Stem Function: – Support for life on land – Carries food/water through plant (through vascular tissues) – Holds up flowers and leaves – Goes through some photosynthesis

Stem Adaptations: – Some are made of wood for support and protection

Roots Function: – Anchors plant to ground (life on land) – Absorbs water and nutrients from ground – Stores food (glucose)

Roots Adaptations: – Desert plants have shallow roots to quickly absorb any rain that falls

Flower Function: – Contains sexual parts (reproduction)

Flower Adaptations: – Attracting pollinators Flowers are brightly colored and/or have odor

Fruit Ripened Ovary Function: – Contains seeds – Sometimes tastes good for animals to eat (seed dispersal)

Seeds Function: – Holds, protects, and feeds embryo – Has method for dispersal

Plant Diversity 2 Major Categories: – Nonvascular – lack vascular tissue (tubes that transport food, water, and minerals throughout plant) – Vascular – have vascular tissue – xylem and phloem (tubes that transport food, water, and minerals throughout plant)

Nonvascular Mosses, liverworts, hornworts Must be very short and live in moist environments – Water and nutrients travel from one cell to another by diffusion and osmosis

Vascular Tissues: – Xylem = carries water from roots to leaves – Phloem = carries food from leaves to roots

Vascular Usually taller than ¼ inch (have stems to support vascular tissue) Some produce spores for reproduction Some produce seeds to reproduce

Vascular Spores: – Ferns and Horsetails

Vascular Seeds: – Gymnosperms = most are cone-producing and have needles Seeds are exposed (not protected) – Angiosperms = Flower producing plants “Angie likes flowers” Seeds are encased in a coat (protected)

Gymnosperms Conifers (pine, fir, spruce) Balsam fir Giant redwood Cycad Ginkgo

Gymnosperm Fertilization Pollen fertilizes ovule, seed develops on the scale of a cone, scales open enough to allow seed to be carried by wind – Wind dispersal

Angiosperm Oak, Maple, Peas, Lotus, etc.

Angiosperm Fertilization Pollen enters the top of the pistil and travels down to fertilize the ovule. Seeds develop into ovary (fruit) Animal dispersal

Plants Angiosperm Seed-producing Spore-producing VascularNonvascular Gymnosperm Larger than ¼ inch? Yes No Seeds? Yes No Seeds with coat?

Plant Walk! Plant NameVascularSeedsAngio/Gymno? 1. Fern

Fern