Major Plant Groups

Group 1: Seedless, Nonvascular Plants• Live in moist

environments– Need water to

reproduce

• Grow low to ground (nonvascular)

• Lack true leaves

• Common pioneer species

• Gametophyte most common (dominant)

• Ex: Mosses, liverworts, hornworts

Group 2: Seedless, Vascular Plants

• Vascular system– Taller growth– Nutrient transportation

• Live in moist environments– swimming sperm

• Has primitive roots called rhizoids

• Gametophyte stage– Called Prothallus– Creates egg and sperm

• Sporophyte stage– Leaves called “Fronds”– Spores created on underside

in clusters called “sori”

• Ex: Ferns, Club mosses, Horsetails

Fern Frond

Underside of frond

Group 3: Seed producing, Vascular Plants

• Type 1: Gymnosperms

• Needle-like leaves (reduces water loss)

• Common to lumber industry

• Seeds enclosed in cones

– Male cones: produce pollen (sperm)

– Female cones: produce eggs

• Zygote hardens into seed (protected inside cones)

• Ex: Evergreen, Pine, Redwood, Cedar

Gymnosperm Life Cycle

Let’s zoom into the cones of this sporophyte tree.

1) Male and female seed cones grow on adult sporophytes

Male cones Female cone

2) Pollen (male gametophyte) released from the male seed cones.

Female eggs become fertilized

Zygote created inside the female cones

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egg egg

egg

zygote

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zygote

Male cones make pollen Female cones make eggs

3) Seeds begin to harden inside the female cones

seed

seed

seed

seed

4) Seeds often spread by wind

“wing” helps seeds spread greater distance

5) Seed will land

ground

6) Seedling grows into (sporophyte)…the cycle repeats

ground

Seed Advantages• 1) Seed plants don’t

depend on water to reproduce– Pollen spread by wind

and animals• 2) Embryo has….

– Nourishment: Nutrients inside feed embryo

– Protection: Hard shell• 3) Seeds allow for

dispersal– Carried by wind,

water, animals

Some seeds are carried by wind

Some seeds have “wings”

Some seeds are carried by animals

Helicopter seeds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l3okbzCzFE

Group 4: Flowering Plants

• Angiosperms (flowering plants)

• Flower = reproductive structure– Attract animals to

help spread pollen– Forms fruit to protect

and spread seeds• Seeds

– Grow inside the fruit– Inside the seed

1. Embryo2. Food supply

Seed Dispersal

• Fruit brightly colored

– Attracts animals

• Seeds pass through animals digestive system

• Seeds pooped in a new area to grow

Fruit seeds in fox poop

Angiosperm Groups• 2 groups: Based on

seed type• Cotyledon:

embryonic leaf• Two Categories:

– Monocots: embryo with 1 seed leaf

– Dicots: embryo with 2 seed leaves

Monocots vs. Dicots

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Apple Tree: Monocot or Dicot?

1

2

3

45

Net-like veins

Monocot or Dicot?

1

2

3

4

5

6

Monocot or Dicot?

Monocot or Dicot?

Monocot or Dicot?

Veins run parallel

Monocot or Dicot?

Veins run parallel

Monocot or Dicot?

Veins branch outward

Angiosperm Life Spans

• Three Life Span Types:• 1) Annuals

– Seed grows…

– Produce flowers & seeds…

– Die

• 2) Biennials– 1st year:

• Seed grows and stores food

– 2nd year:

• grows more…

• makes flowers & seeds…

• dies

• 3) Perennials– Live for more than 2 years– May take decades to grow

fruit

sepals

petals• Reproductive

structure of angiosperms

• Sepals– outer ring of leaves– protection

• Petals– Inner ring of leaves – Brightly colored to

attract pollinators• Male and female

organs found inside

Flowers

Tulip Pistil and Stamen

male

female

Lily Pistil and Stamen

male

female

Pistil and Stamen

male

female

Pistil and Stamen

male

female

Flowers• Male Stamen

– Anther: produces pollen (sperm)

• Female Carpel/Pistil– Inner most part– Ovary: within the

base• Contains eggs• Grows into fruit when

fertilized

– Stigma: sticky tip, collects pollen

...

Self-Pollination(own pollen fertilizes own egg)

Cross-Pollination(pollen of one, fertilizes egg of another)

...

Angiosperm Life Cycle

Here is an apple tree….lets zoom into an individual flower.1) Pollen sticks to animal or released into wind

2) Insect flies away covered in pollen

. .... . ...

. ...... ......

Angiosperm Life Cycle1) Pollen sticks to animal or released into wind

2) Insect flies away covered in pollen

3) Insect comes across another flower and spreads the pollen

.. .

... ...

...

Angiosperm Life Cycle1) Pollen sticks to animal or released into wind

2) Insect flies away covered in pollen

3) Insect comes across another flower and spreads the pollen

4) Pollen tube grows towards ovary

.

Angiosperm Life Cycle1) Pollen sticks to animal or released into wind

2) Insect flies away covered in pollen

3) Insect comes across another flower and spreads the pollen

4) Pollen tube grows towards ovary

.

5) Nucleus travels down pollen tube to fertilize egg

.

Angiosperm Life Cycle1) Pollen sticks to animal or released into wind

2) Insect flies away covered in pollen

3) Insect comes across another flower and spreads the pollen

4) Pollen tube grows towards ovary

.

5) Nucleus travels down pollen tube to fertilize egg

.

6) Zygote hardens into seed…flower starts to die

seed

ovary

Angiosperm Life Cycle1) Pollen sticks to animal or released into wind

2) Insect flies away covered in pollen

3) Insect comes across another flower and spreads the pollen

4) Pollen tube grows towards ovary

5) Nucleus travels down pollen tube to fertilize egg

6) Zygote hardens into seed…flower starts to die

7) Ovary grows into a fruit (seeds insides)

ovary

Angiosperm Life Cycle1) Pollen sticks to animal or released into wind

2) Insect flies away covered in pollen

3) Insect comes across another flower and spreads the pollen

4) Pollen tube grows towards ovary

5) Nucleus travels down pollen tube to fertilize egg

6) Zygote hardens into seed…flower starts to die

7) Ovary grows into a fruit (seeds insides)

Angiosperm Life Cycle1) Pollen sticks to animal or released into wind

2) Insect flies away covered in pollen

3) Insect comes across another flower and spreads the pollen

4) Pollen tube grows towards ovary

5) Nucleus travels down pollen tube to fertilize egg

6) Zygote hardens into seed…flower starts to die

7) Ovary grows into a fruit (seeds insides)

seed

A few hours later…

seed

Seedling begins to grow…

Years later….

HW: Bring a flower and leaf to school. One with distinct male and female

parts.