An Explanation of Why Plants Do What They Do All About Plants An Explanation of Why Plants Do What They Do

Photosynthesis Photosynthesis is a way for plants to interact with the environment by exchanging gases and nutrients to produce energy.

Capturing the Sun’s Energy Chloroplasts absorb light for photosynthesis

Gas Exchange Carbon dioxide enters the plant through small openings in the leaves called Stomata. Singular-stoma

Stoma

Glucose Some is… Used for energy Used for storage Used for making cellulose (fiber)

Glucose

What happens to the oxygen? The oxygen from plants allows other organisms to breathe and is used for Cellular Respiration.

What Is an Autotroph? Produce their own food (aka Producers.

What Is a Heterotroph? A heterotroph is an organism that cannot produce its own food. They are also called “consumers.”

Algae Algae do photosynthesis but lack the parts that common plants have. They can be simple single celled organisms or multicellular.

Non-Vascular Plants Absorb water from their environment. They do not have roots. They typically grow in wet, or moist climates

Non-Vascular Plants Moss

Oldest Plants The oldest plants on the Earth were simple plants made of one cell like algae. These still exist today.

Vascular Plants Vascular Plants have roots and stems.

Types of Vascular Plants Either they make seeds or they don’t. Seed Plants and Seedless Plants

Seed Plants (Vascular) Seed Plants either flower or they don’t. This one flowers Angiosperms

Seeds Cotyledons store food for the seed (advantage)

Angiosperms (Fruits and Flowers)

Non-Flowering Seed Plants Gymnosperms ( cones)

Birds and Bees Move pollen Stimulates growth

Sexual Reproduction Male and female parts combine genetic information. Leads to diversity (advantage).

Parts of a Flower Stamen-male part Pistil-female part Anthers release pollen Pollen goes down stigma and forms pollen tube to ovule Fertilization

Ovule Fertilized Ovary becomes fruit. Seed dispersion.

Asexual Reproduction Spider Plants

Food Web

The End