1. Plantae

2. General Characteristics
Eukaryotic
Multicellular
Autotrophic
Mostly land dwelling
Cells have walls that contain cellulose
Develop from embryos
Include: mosses, ferns, conifers and flowering plants

3. Life Cycles Vary among plant groups Alternation of Generations;
One is haploid (gametophyte)
One is diploid (sporophyte)
Plants produce haploid cells called spores - spores divide which is still haploid
These haploid plants eventually produce gametes which fuse to form a zygote

4. Zygote then grows into a diploid sporophyte plant
Generations look different
Gametophyte generation is dominant in more primitive plants but in seed producing plants the sporophyte generation is dominant

5. Non-Vascular plants Bryophytes: mosses, liverworts, and hornworts
Lack true roots, stems and leaves
No specialized tissue for transporting materials (vascular tissue)
Dense mats in moist environments
First appeared about 400million years ago
Produce spores rather than seeds

6. Importance of Bryophytes
Sphagnum moss (peat moss)
Found in bogs
Peat = layers of partially decayed moss
Used as fuel, burned for heat
Added to soil
Sanitary pads
Harvested in Canada in Quebec and New Brunswick - however removal has reduced ground storage for carbon dioxide

7. Vascular Plants
Tracheophytes - first appeared on Earth 360 million years ago
Survive well because of the presence of vascular tissue, phloem and xylem
Divided into two groups:
Spore producers
Seed producers

8. Spore Producing Vascular Plants
Club Mosses, Horsetails and Ferns
Ferns:
Leaves are called fronds
Underground stems called rhizomes
Produce spores in sporangia - underside of frond
Need water to complete life cycle
Sperm need to swim in water

9. Seed Producing Vascular Plants
Most successful plants on Earth
Highly specialized organs (leaves, stems, roots) that allow them to adapt
Be divided into two groups
Both groups reproduce sexually by the process of pollination

10. Gymnosperms Confiers, gnetae, ginkos and cycads
Specialized reproductive structures called cones
Two types of cones
Male - pollen cones - produce pollen
Female - seed cones - produce ovules

11. Angiosperms Flowering plants Most widespread of all land plants
species worldwide
All reproduce by flowers through pollination
Seeds are encased in a protective wall that produces a fruit