1. Characteristic Structures of Various Groups of Plants
Non-Vascular Plants
Vascular Plants
Spore-Producing
Seed-Producing
Cone-Bearing
Flowering Plants
Monocots
Plants
Dicots

2. Characteristics of Plants
Classified according to:
How they absorb and circulate fluids-vascular or nonvascular
How they reproduce-spores or seeds
Whether they produce seeds in cones or flowers
Type of seed leaf- monocot or dicot

3. Non-Vascular vs. Vascular
Largest group in the Plant Kingdom
Have TRUE roots, stems, and leaves
Have vascular tissue
Have tube-like structures that provide support and circulate water and food throughout the plant called xylem and phloem
Ex. stems can be woody (trees) or herbaceous (grasses)
Cannot circulate water through their stems and leaves
Do not have TRUE root, stems, or leaves
Do not have vascular tissue
Must absorb nutrients cell to cell from environment around them
Small in size
Ex. mosses, liverworts, hornworts

4. Spore-Producing vs. Seed-Producing
Plants that reproduce through seeds
Make their own seeds
Seeds contain: embryo-the start of the roots, stems, and leaves, cotyledons-stored food and are surrounded by a seed coat
Two groups: cone-bearing and flowering
Plants that produce spores for reproduction
Spores are smaller than seeds
Most are flowerless plants
Ex. mosses and ferns

5. Cone-Bearing Plants vs. Flowering Plants
Most plants belong to this group
Grow seeds inside the ovary in the flower
Flower becomes a fruit containing seeds
Ex. Most trees, shrubs, vines, flowers, fruits, vegetables, and legumes
Two groups: Monocot and Dicot
Most are evergreens
Have needle-like leaves
Never have flowers
Produce seeds in cones
Ex. Pine, spruce, juniper, redwood, cedar trees

6. Monocot vs. Dicot Seeds with 1 food storage area
Flowers have 3 petals or multiples of 3’s
Long and slender leaves with veins that are parallel to each other
Vascular tubes are scattered randomly in stem
Ex. grass, corn, rice, lilies, tulips
Seeds with 2 food storage areas
Flowers have 4 or 5 petals or multiples of these
Wide leaves with branching veins
Vascular tubes are arranged in circular bundles in the stem
Ex. roses, dandelions, maple, oak trees