Survey of Plants, Fungi, and Algae Medically important organisms traditionally called “plants”

Five Kingdom System

Oscillatoria Nostoc Kingdom Monera Cyanobacteria (Blue Green Algae) Spirulina

Kingdom Protista zSix divisions of algae: yDivision Pyrrophyta - dinoflagellates yDivision Chrysophyta - diatoms yDivision Euglenophyta - euglenoids yDivision Chlorophyta - green algae yDivision Rhodophyta - red algae yDivision Phaeophyta - brown algae zTwo divisions of fungi

Dinoflagellates

Diatoms & Golden Brown Algae

Rhodophyta – Red Algae

Div. Phaeophyta KELP - common name for several brown seaweeds

Algal Bloom

Kingdom Planta z10 divisions of plants zOrganize into 4 groups ymosses and liverworts (Division Bryophyta) yferns and fern-allies (four divisions) ygymnosperms (four divisions) yangiosperms (Division Magnoliophyta)

Moss Liverwort Bryophyta: mosses, liverworts, and hornworts

Lower Vascular Plants: Ferns and fern-allies zReproduce by spores formed in a sporangium zLong fossil history zDivisions ywhisk ferns – Psilophyta yclub mosses – Lycophyta yhorsetails – Sphenophyta yferns – Pterophyta

Division Lycophyta Club Moss

Division Sphenophyta Horsetails ( Equisetum )

Division Pterophyta Ferns - About 10,000 species exist from tropics to arctic. Braken fern known to be toxic

Gymnosperms zDivision Cycadophyta - Cycads zDivision Ginkgophyta - Ginkgo zDivision Gnetophyta - Ephedra and allies zDivision Coniferophyta - Conifers

Cycads

Cycad Female Cones

Leaves of a Ginkgo tree

Division Gnetophyta – Ephedra is one of three genera in the division

Division Coniferophyta: Yew (Taxus spp)

Division Coniferophyta Cupressaceae - Cedar Family Pollen release from a male Juniperus tree

Division Magnoliophyta - Angiosperms

Important Angiosperm Families with Health Effects zSolanaceae - nightshade family zPapaveraceae - poppy family zBrassicaceae - mustard family zEuphorbiaceae - euphorb family zRubiaceae - coffee tree family zFabaceae - legume family zLiliaceae - lily family

Fungal-like organisms in Kingdom Protista zSlime molds - Division Myxomycota ySlimy (animal-like) feeding stage yReproduce by spores zWater molds - Division Oomycota yMany in fresh water others on land yImportant plant pathogens in this group

Kingdom Fungi zDivision Chytridiomycota (chytrids) – very primitive fungi – cause of amphibian extinctions zDivison Zygomycota (zygomycetes) - simple mycelial fungi – “sugar fungi” zDivision Ascomycota (ascomycetes) - yeasts, mycelial fungi, morels, cup fungi, truffles zDivision Basidiomycota (basidiomycetes) - mushrooms, bracket fungi, puffballs zAsexual Fungi (imperfect fungi) - artificial group of mycelial fungi with no sexual stage - molds

Fungi include molds and mushrooms

Fungi and Human Health