Seedless PlantsChapter 9 Section 2

Nonvascular PlantsO Very small plants that have rhizoids

rather than ROOTS.

Nonvascular plantsO Water is absorbed and distributed

directly through cell membranes and CELL WALLS.

O Grow in DAMP environments

O Reproduce by SPORES rather than seeds

ExamplesO Mosses – green, leaflike growths

arranged around a central stalk

O Liverworts – flattened, leaflike bodies

O Hornworts – have only one choloroplast in each of their cells

Mosses

Liverworts

Hornworts

Nonvascular PlantsO Frequently pioneer species –

organisms that are the first to grow in new or disturbed areas and which change ENVIRONMENT conditions

Seedless Vascular Plants

O Reproduce by spores, but have VASCULAR tissue that carries water and nutrients throughout the plants

Seedless Vascular Plants

O Can grow BIGGER and THICKER than nonvascular plants

O FERNS – largest group of seedless vascular plants

FernsO Have stems, leaves, and ROOTS

O LEAVES are called fronds

O Reproduce by SPORES found on the back of their fronds

Club MossesO Needlike leaves

HorsetailsO Jointed stem with a HOLLOW center

Importance of seedless plants

O Fuel – decaying seedless plants are compressed into peat and eventually COAL.

O Soil conditioners

O FERNS can be used for weaving material and basketry