Characteristic Structures of Various Groups of Plants Non-Vascular Plants Vascular Plants Spore-Producing Seed-Producing Cone-Bearing Flowering Plants Monocots Plants Dicots

Characteristics of Plants Classified according to: How they absorb and circulate fluids-vascular or nonvascular How they reproduce-spores or seeds Whether they produce seeds in cones or flowers Type of seed leaf- monocot or dicot

Non-Vascular vs. Vascular Largest group in the Plant Kingdom Have TRUE roots, stems, and leaves Have vascular tissue Have tube-like structures that provide support and circulate water and food throughout the plant called xylem and phloem Ex. stems can be woody (trees) or herbaceous (grasses) Cannot circulate water through their stems and leaves Do not have TRUE root, stems, or leaves Do not have vascular tissue Must absorb nutrients cell to cell from environment around them Small in size Ex. mosses, liverworts, hornworts

Spore-Producing vs. Seed-Producing Plants that reproduce through seeds Make their own seeds Seeds contain: embryo-the start of the roots, stems, and leaves, cotyledons-stored food and are surrounded by a seed coat Two groups: cone-bearing and flowering Plants that produce spores for reproduction Spores are smaller than seeds Most are flowerless plants Ex. mosses and ferns

Cone-Bearing Plants vs. Flowering Plants Most plants belong to this group Grow seeds inside the ovary in the flower Flower becomes a fruit containing seeds Ex. Most trees, shrubs, vines, flowers, fruits, vegetables, and legumes Two groups: Monocot and Dicot Most are evergreens Have needle-like leaves Never have flowers Produce seeds in cones Ex. Pine, spruce, juniper, redwood, cedar trees

Monocot vs. Dicot Seeds with 1 food storage area Flowers have 3 petals or multiples of 3’s Long and slender leaves with veins that are parallel to each other Vascular tubes are scattered randomly in stem Ex. grass, corn, rice, lilies, tulips Seeds with 2 food storage areas Flowers have 4 or 5 petals or multiples of these Wide leaves with branching veins Vascular tubes are arranged in circular bundles in the stem Ex. roses, dandelions, maple, oak trees