The Diversity of Plants

Bryophytes

The first plant group above the water line.

Only non-vascular group, lacks upright structure.

Use diffusion of water to hydrate cells.

Depends on damp environment and access to water.

Also requires water for sperm to swim through to eggs.

Unique to bryophytes, the gametophyte is dominant and sporophyte is simple and relatively smaller.

Mosses

Liverwort

Hornwo

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As a Non-

Renewable Resource

•Plant pioneers out of the water and onto dry land.•Maintain the Earth’s ecosystem’s humidity levels. •As sponges, they maintain humidity over dry periods and prevent rapid run-off and flooding.•Example: The increase of flooding in India can be partly attributed to the loss of bryophytes in the Himalayan forests.

FERNS

Basic Information

Ferns usually grow in tropical areas

Vascular plants with internal vein structures

Reproduce from spores and an intermediate stage called gametophyte

Reproduction

Patches stuck to the pinnae

Patches are where you find the spores

Spores grow inside casings called sporangia

Take a piece of mature fertile fern frond and place it face up so that the spore material is on the underneath of the frond , then leave it overnight, you’re likely to find the next day that the spores have been released as a fine coloured powder

They show up as a fine pattern tracing the form of the fern frond. They can be black, brown, reddish, yellow or even green, but they are extremely small. Each of these spores is capable - through a circuitous process - of growing into an adult fern.

Interesting Facts

There are about 12,000 different types of Ferns

These plants are among the oldest living organisms on the planet; they existed on the planet for nearly 400 million years.

Reproduction of ferns takes place in two morphologically different phases known as sporophyte and gametophyte

Ferns can absorb heavy metals from the air and soil. They can be used to prevent pollution or for the cleaning of already polluted areas

Ferns are able to absorb nitrogen from the air. Because of this feature, some farmers use ferns as natural fertilizers on the rice fields

Gymnosperms

Gymnosperms include conifers (redwoods, sequoias, cedars, junipers, pine trees)

Coniferous forests cover much of Northern Eurasia and North America

Almost 200 million acres of coniferous forests are in national forests

Conifers are the tallest organisms in the world

Gymnosperms

Gymnosperms can reproduce without water due to their pollen, which can be transferred by wind.

Gymnosperms advanced ahead of bryophytes and ferns this way

Gymnosperms

Our ecosystems provide medicinal plants, food, timber, clean air and water, and homes for wildlife

About 1 billion of our population relies on forests

We deforest by doing slash and burn, ranching, excessive logging for timber

The effects are irreversible

Gymnosperms

Forests soak up carbon dioxide

Global warming is worsening due to deforestation

15% of greenhouse gases emissions are already due to deforestation

Angiosperm Basic Information

Angiosperms are vascular plants.

Angiosperms are reproductive plants, producing gametophytes in order to produce an ovule that will later on develop into a seed.

Basic sex organs include: sepals, petals, stamens, anther, carpel, ovary and stigma.

Different Types of Angiosperms

Monocots

Have only one seed leaf, and include veins in the leaves, flower parts are in multiples of 3 and there are scattered vascular bundles within the plant

Examples: corn, grass, palm trees

Dicots

Have two seed leaves, netlike vein patterns in leaves, flower parts are in multiples of 4 or 5 and vascular bundles are in distinct rings within the plant

Examples: roses, sunflowers, cacti, and apple and cherry trees

Monocots vs. Dicots

Angiosperms Importance to the

EcosystemAngiosperms are the primary

food source for animals.

They provide us with oxygen for us to breathe.

The provide lumber for buildings and other objects.

They are the basis for many drugs.