Kingdom Plantae

Classification of Plants Arranged into two major groups: Presence or absence of vascular tissue Presence or absence of seeds

Non – Vascular Plants Mosses Hornworts Liverworts

Mosses

Mosses

Hornworts

Hornworts

Liverworts

Common Characteristics of Non-Vascular Plants: Don’t have vascular tissue (root, stem, leaves) Use diffusion and osmosis to transport nutrients. Don’t have roots but have root-like structures. Have male and female gametes

Seedless Vascular Plants Characteristics: Vascular tissue Gametes need moisture to reproduce sexually Mostly extinct Represents the next evolutionary step after non-vascular plants.

Vascular Plants Vascular plants have: Roots Stems Leaves

Seedless vascular plants Include ferns, whisk ferns, club mosses, and horsetails. Do not produce seeds dispersed (spread) by windblown spores. Vascular Sperm are flagellated and require water for reproduction. limited to moist areas. Used to be abundant and tree-sized. Responsible for a part of fossil fuel sources Leaves of later plants probably evolved from webbing between the branches.

Vascular Plants with Seeds Two types: Gymnosperms Angiosperms

Gymnosperms Means ‘naked seed’ Seeds are on the surface of cone scales Include coniferous (cone-bearing) trees

Gymnosperms Pine Trees

Fir Trees

Spruce trees

Cedar Trees

Cedar Trees

Seeds Advantages of sexual reproduction through seeds: Protection from environment – can survive cold, dry conditions Doesn’t need water Can be carried long distances

Reproduction in Gymnosperms Female cones produce ovules Male cones produce microspores that develop into pollen grains Each cone produces thousands of pollen grains Pollen is dispersed by wind and lands on female cones. Pollen tube forms – allows sperm to travel After fertilization, zygote develops in a female cone – may take from several months to 2 yrs.

Gymnosperms Advantages of their structure: Cone shaped – snow slides off Bark – protects stem, reduces water loss Needles – reduce rate of evaporation Evergreen – don’t shed all needles at once: a) Photosynthesis b) Soil

Angiosperms ‘Flowering plants’ Plants that protect their seeds within the body of a fruit. Include flowers, trees, shrubs, grasses, and herbs.

Angiosperms Advantages: Scented and colourful Reproduce sexually Helps pollination (a very precise method of reproduction.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuYrFwDuYn0 Reproduce sexually Can self pollinate Fruit helps with seed dispersal 47% of them are polyploid (3+ chromosomes)

Advantages of Polyploidy Reproduce asexually (fast & greater numbers) Even number of chromosomes: Produces larger fruit Ex. Potatoes (4n), apples, strawberries Ex. Wheat: 6n for bread Odd number of chromosomes: Sterile – can’t pair during meiosis Ex: seedless fruit, less bitter cucumbers