1. Plant Phyla

2. But before we get into phyla . . .
To what domain do plants belong?
EUKARYA!!
To what kingdom do plants belong?
Plants (Plantae)
What are some characteristics that ALL plants share?
Cell nuclei (Eukarya)
Cell walls
Multicellular
Photosynthesis

3. Evidence suggests that green algae is the ancestor of modern plants
Evidence suggests that green algae is the ancestor of modern plants. Why?
Plants live on land and in water.
Adaptations that allow plants to live on land include:
Mechanisms for retaining moisture: cuticle and stomata (see p. 614)
Means of transporting resources: vascular system (see p. 614)
Able to grow upright: lignin (see p. 614)
Mechanisms for reproduction: pollen and seeds (see p. 614)

4. Classifying plants Plants are classified into four main groups:
Mosses and Liverwort (Bryophyta)
Ferns (Pteridophyta)
Conifers (Gymnosperms)
Flowering Plants (Angiosperms)
All are different in appearance, structure and behaviour.

6. Mosses - Bryophyta
Mosses are non-vascular plants -- they cannot transport fluids through their bodies.
Instead, they must rely on surrounding moisture to do this job for them.
Though small in stature, mosses are very important members of our ecosystem.
They lay the foundations for other plant growth, prevent erosion, and contribute to the lush green appearance of many forested areas.

7. Mosses - 2
The 24,000 bryophyte species, sometimes grouped into a single phylum are now grouped in three phyla:
Mosses (Bryophyta),
Liverworts (Hepatophyta) and
Hornworts (Anthoceraphyta).
They reproduce by spores, never have flowers, and can be found growing on the ground, on rocks, and on other plants.

8. Mosses

9. Liverworts and Hornworts

11. The Fern - Pteridophyta
Ferns have a vascular system to transport fluids through their bodies but like the mosses, they reproduce from spores rather than seeds.
The main phylum, the Ferns (Pteridophyta) includes around 12,000 species.
Three other phyla are included as fern allies: the Horsetails, Club Mosses and Whisk Ferns
Ferns also have a gametophyte and sporophyte stage, but the gametophyte stage is very short.

14. Conifers - Gymnosperms
The gymnosperms reproduce from seeds instead of spores.
The seeds, however, are "naked" (Greek: gummnos) -- not covered by an ovary.
Usually, the seed is produced inside a cone-like structure such as a pine cone which is why they are called "conifer."
Some conifers, such as the Yew and Ginko, produce their seeds inside a berry-like structure.
Conifers are fairly easy to identify: In addition to cones, these trees and shrubs typically have needle-like, scale-like or awl-like leaves.
And they NEVER have flowers.

15. Conifers - 2
Approximately 600 species are counted as conifers including the pines, firs, spruces, cedars, junipers, and yew.
Species within the conifer ranks give us pine nuts -- pesto's magic ingredient -- as well as juniper berries for gin.
Conifer allies include three small phyla containing fewer than 200 species all together:
Gingko (Ginkophyta)
Cycads (Cycadophyta) ;
And herb-like cone-bearing plants (Gnetophyta) such as Ephedra.

16. Conifers

17. Angiosperms (Flowering Plants):
Angiosperms have flowers and fruit.
A flower is the reproductive structure of flowering plants, and they protect a plant’s gametes and fertilized eggs (just like woody cones do for most gymnosperms).
A fruit is the mature ovary of a flower. Examples: apples and peaches

18. Further classification of flowering plants…
Botanists classify flowering plants into two groups based on two basic kinds of seeds: seeds with one or two cotyledons.
A cotyledon is an embryonic leaf inside a seed. They are often called “seed leaves.”
This develops into a seedling, and then eventually a fully developed plant.
The two groups based on seeds are monocots and dicots.

19. Monocots
Monocots are flowering plants whose embryos have one seed leaf.
They generally have parallel veins in long, narrow leaves (such as in an iris or lily).
Their flowers usually occur in multiples of 3, and bundles of vascular tissue are scattered throughout the stem.
Examples: corn, wheat, rice, grasses, irises, and lillies

20. Dicots Dicots are flowering plants whose embryos have two seed leaves.
They have leaves with netlike veins.
Flowers usually occur in multiples of four or five, and bundles of vascular tissue are arranged in rings.
Examples: deciduous trees, peanuts

24. Quick Review
Main types of plants: mosses, ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms
Mosses: nonvascular; reproduce via spores
Ferns: vascular; reproduce via spores
Gymnosperms: nonflowering; reproduce via “naked seeds” meaning they do not produce fruit
Angiosperms: flowering; reproduce via seeds that are protected in mature ovaries called fruit