Kingdom Plantae

Autotrophs (photosynthesis)Eukaryotic

MulticellularBy Diana L. Duckworth

Rustburg High School, Campbell County

Plants were first life to invade land some 400 million years ago

• Three major problems to solve:• (1) How to get nutrients out of bare rock

– Partnership with fungi - mycorrhizae

• (2) How to keep from drying out– Developed watertight covering – cuticle– Also kept out gases – developed stomata (singular –

stoma)

• (3) How to reproduce without water medium– Sperm enclosed in pollen – wind or insect dispersal;

prevents drying out

cuticle

Stomata

http://www.agr.gc.ca/nlwis-snite/index_e.cfm?s1=pub&s2=ha_sa&page=73

http://www.learner.org/jnorth/spring2001/species/tulip/Update051801.html

Demands of land environment led to cell differentiation & thus different tissues and enabled

larger sized plants• Stems – provide support; contain vascular tissue to carry

nutrients & water to leaves from roots• Roots – anchor plant in soil; take up nutrients and water• Vascular tissue

– Xylem – carries water & minerals from roots– Phloem – carries food made in leaves by photosynthesis to rest

of plant• Seeds – multicellular; contain embryo of plant

– Protection – seed coat prevents injury & dessication of embryo– Nourishment – food for plant embryo as it starts to grow– Dispersal – by animals or wind or water– Delayed growth – can remain dormant until conditions are right

to germinate• Leaves – structures specialized to carryout

photosynthesis• Flowers – specialized structures to make reproduction

more efficient

http://arnica.csustan.edu/photos/800/Cucurbita_vascular_tissue_LS_100x.jpg

http://www.karencarr.com/gallery_stem_diagram.html

http://grandpacliff.com/Plants/Glossary-Plants.htm

Kinds of Plants - Nonvascular

• Small – no specialized structures for taking up nutrients or water; each cell for itself

• Gametophyte generation is larger & photosynthetic; sporophyte non photosynthetic & grows on gametophyte

• Need water for sexual reproduction – sperm swim to eggs

Nonvascular Examples

• Mosses – leaves arranged in spiral around stem– Have cuticle, stomata,

water conducting cells

• Liverworts – lack conducting cells, cuticle & stomata

• Hornworts – lack conducting cells, cuticle, stomata http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/interesting/lichens/whatnot.shtml

Seedless Vascular Plants

• Have a vascular system

• Sporophyte is larger & photosynthetic

• Do need water to reproduce

• Have drought-resistant spores

• Example: Ferns

http://eclipsetheatrecompany.wordpress.com/2008/02/29/can-you-see-the-light-part-iii/

http://www.pbase.com/rak_929/image/41482294

Gymnosperms – naked seed• Produces seeds not

enclosed in fruit• Gametophytes are male

& female; greatly reduced– Male are grains of pollen– Female form within

structures that become seeds

– Have male & female cones

• Wind pollination• Example - conifers

http://countrysidecreek.typepad.com/photos/pictures/p1000246.html

Angiosperms – Flowering Plants

• Male & Female gametophytes develop within a flower – promotes pollination

• Seeds are enclosed in a fruit – promotes dispersal

• Seeds contain supply of food called endosperm

Two kinds of angiosperms: monocots & dicots

• Monocots– One seed leaf– Flowers have parts in

multiples of 3– Long narrow leaves

with parallel veins– Examples – grass;

corn; lilies

• Dicots– Two seed leaves– Flower parts in

multiples of 2, 4, 5– Leaves with branching

veins– Examples: roses– Daisies; fruits such as

apples, peaches, etc.

Comparison of Monocots & Dicotshttp://encarta.msn.com/media_461549076_761558348_-1_1/monocot_and_dicot_seeds.html