Plantae

General Characteristics Eukaryotic Multicellular Autotrophic Mostly land dwelling Cells have walls that contain cellulose Develop from embryos Include: mosses, ferns, conifers and flowering plants

Life Cycles Vary among plant groups Alternation of Generations; One is haploid (gametophyte) One is diploid (sporophyte) Plants produce haploid cells called spores - spores divide which is still haploid These haploid plants eventually produce gametes which fuse to form a zygote

Zygote then grows into a diploid sporophyte plant Generations look different Gametophyte generation is dominant in more primitive plants but in seed producing plants the sporophyte generation is dominant

Non-Vascular plants Bryophytes: mosses, liverworts, and hornworts Lack true roots, stems and leaves No specialized tissue for transporting materials (vascular tissue) Dense mats in moist environments First appeared about 400million years ago Produce spores rather than seeds

Importance of Bryophytes Sphagnum moss (peat moss) Found in bogs Peat = layers of partially decayed moss Used as fuel, burned for heat Added to soil Sanitary pads Harvested in Canada in Quebec and New Brunswick - however removal has reduced ground storage for carbon dioxide

Vascular Plants Tracheophytes - first appeared on Earth 360 million years ago Survive well because of the presence of vascular tissue, phloem and xylem Divided into two groups: Spore producers Seed producers

Spore Producing Vascular Plants Club Mosses, Horsetails and Ferns Ferns: Leaves are called fronds Underground stems called rhizomes Produce spores in sporangia - underside of frond Need water to complete life cycle Sperm need to swim in water

Seed Producing Vascular Plants Most successful plants on Earth Highly specialized organs (leaves, stems, roots) that allow them to adapt Be divided into two groups Both groups reproduce sexually by the process of pollination

Gymnosperms Confiers, gnetae, ginkos and cycads Specialized reproductive structures called cones Two types of cones Male - pollen cones - produce pollen Female - seed cones - produce ovules

Angiosperms Flowering plants Most widespread of all land plants 250 000 species worldwide All reproduce by flowers through pollination Seeds are encased in a protective wall that produces a fruit