Plants: Types and Needs Life Science Week 12 Mrs. Rubright

Plants God created and sustains thousands of plant species. There are over 300,000 species of plants. All plants have several things in common Plants make their own food Plant cells have cell walls outside of their cell membranes Plants reproduce with a two-part life cycle Sporophyte – spore producing phase Gametophyte – gamete producing phases

Types of Plants Nonvascular plants Plants that don’t have vessels to transport materials throughout the plant Mosses and liverworts are nonvascular plants Vascular plants have vessels to transport material throughout the plant Vascular plants can be as small as violets or as large as oak trees

Vascular Plants Vascular plants can be divided into two groups Those that do not produce seeds And those that do Ferns and mosses do not produce seeds. They reproduce using spores A spore is a small reproductive cell that can develop into an adult without fusing with another cell Plants that produce seeds are also divided into two groups Plants that produce seeds but not flowers Plants that produce flowers

Gymnosperms Plants that produce seeds but not flowers are called gymnosperms There are four groups of gymnosperms: Cycads Ginkgoes Gnetophytes Conifers

Cycads Cycads are tropical gymnosperms that look like palm trees. Leaves grow in clusters on top of the trunk. Seeds develop in cones

Ginkgoes The only living species of Ginkgoes is the ginkgo tree Fan shaped leaves with a forked, branching pattern of veins Trees are either male or female The seeds which only grow on female trees have a very bad smell

Gnetophytes There are many varieties of Gnetophytes Large, leathery leaves Seeds develop in cones The welsithshia species can live to be 2000 years old

Conifers Conifers are the most common type of gymnosperm We usually, incorrectly, just call them all pine trees Seeds develop in cones Usually have needles

Angiosperms Plants that produce seeds in flowers are called angiosperms These plants produce seeds in protective seed cases called fruit Not all fruit is the kind that we eat All agriculture crops, garden flowers and broad- leaved shrubs and trees are angiosperms

Angiosperms Plants with seeds can also be classified according to their lifespan Annuals complete their life-cycle in one growing season Biennials complete their life-cycle in two growing seasons Perennials live through many growing seasons

Types of Plants - Summary

Plant Needs All plants have the same basic needs in order to live Soil Sun Water Carbon Dioxide Space Correct Temperature

Plant Needs Soil provides minerals and nutrients Soil anchors the plant and holds water around it Humus, partially decayed plant or animal matter, naturally mixes with pieces of rock to create soil.

Plant Needs Most plants make food through photosynthesis Ingredients: Sunlight (energy) Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Water (H20) Where: Mainly, in the leaf.

Plant Needs Space and Temperature are also important to plants Crowded plants grow smaller and die faster than plants that have room to grow Each plant species has an ideal growth temperature This can vary with the plants age.