By Chase Longo

Seedless nonvascular Grow close to the ground to absorb nutrients Grow in most terrestrial habitats, even deserts Reproduce sexually or asexually (spores or fragmentation in some cases) Require abundant water for growth and reproduction, but can survive dry spells by drying out or holding amounts of water in dead cells Bryophyta (mosses) Barbella hypnales Pyrrhobryum rhizogoniales Pogonatum polytrichopsida

Seedless nonvascular Typically small (2-20 cm wide, 10cm long); cover large patches of ground; rocks; or trees; single-celled rhizoids; thallus or leafy body Most common in tropical areas, but found in many other ecosystems Reproduce sexually or asexually by spores In ancient times it was believed they were medicinal, since they resemble the human liver Hepatophyta (liverworts) Lunularia cruciata Marchantia polymorpha Conocephalum conicum

Seedless nonvascular Tall, narrow sporophytes embedded in top of plant; grows throughout life; small (1-2 cm across, 1-4 cm tall) Grow in tropical forests, along streamsides, disturbed fields Reproduce sexually by homospores, asexually by spores Anthocerophyta (hornworts) Phaeoceros laevis Dendroceros crispus Phaeoceros carolinianus

Seedless vascular Small (no taller than one meter); some species resemble small pine trees Grow in the tropics and temperate climates Reproduce by spores Interesting facts: their spores are highly flammable and have been used in fireworks; huperzine, a chemical isolated in Chinese club moss, is currently being researched to treat Alzheimer’s disease Lycophyta (club mosses) Lycopodiella inundata Lycopodiopsida diphasiastrum Selaginella kraussiana

Seedless vascular True roots, stems, and leaves; most are terrestrial, but some are epiphytic or aquatic, stems have a thick coat, rhizoids, roots are weak Found in moist environments, very few live in dry Sexual reproduction requires moisture, asexually reproduce by spores Pterophyta (ferns) Dicksonia antarctica Adiantum lunulatum Pyrrosia piloselloides

Vascular seed plants (gymnosperms) Crown of large compound leaves, stout trunk, palm-like leaves Found in tropical and subtropical regions Dioecious (sexual reproduction) Cycadophyta (cycads) Cycas rumphii Encephalartos sclavoi Cycas revoluta

Vascular seed plants (gymnosperms) Fan-shaped leaves; up to 30 meters tall; can live for 1000 years; edible seeds Temperate or Mediterranean climates Dioecious (sexual reproduction), separate sexes (male and female trees) Only living species is Ginkgo biloba, which was kept alive by Buddhist monks who cultivated it for thousands of years Interesting fact: the Ginkgo biloba is resistant to pollution and pests, and is also believed to be a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease Ginkgophyta (ginkgoes) Ginkgo biloba Ginkgo leaves in summer Ginkgo pollen- bearing cones

Vascular seed plants (gymnosperms) Evergreen, needles, woody cones enclosing seeds, woody stems, in the form of trees or shrubs (mostly trees) Dioecious or monecious (sexual reproduction) Found in boreal forests Coniferophyta (conifers) Needles and bud of Coast Douglas- fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) Awl-like leaves of Cook Pine (Araucaria columnaris) Scale leaves of Lawson's Cypress (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana)

Vascular seed plants (angiosperms) Non-motile sperm, seeds enclosed in fruit, various mechanisms of pollination and seed dispersal Found in all habitats that have plants Sexual reproduction by pollination Interesting fact: human life is dependent on angiosperms for food, clothing, and many other things we encounter on a daily basis Anthophyta (flowering plants) Liriodendron tulipifera, yellow poplar Cucumber tree, Magnolia acuminata Water lily, Nymphaea alba