Plants
Kingdom Plantae
Plant Characteristics
• Eukaryotic and multicellular
• Autotrophs = make own food by
photosynthesis
– Some are carnivorous
• Have cell walls
Life Cycle
• Alternates between sexual phase
(gametophyte) and asexual phase
(sporophyte)
Plant Parts
• Main Organs:
– Leaves
– Roots
– Stems
– Flower
Leaves
• Function:
– Absorb sunlight for photosynthesis
– Gas exchange (O2 and CO2) through stomata
Leaves
• Adaptations:
– Stomata = prevent water loss
– Specialized adaptations due to
location
• Rainforest floor – Broad leaves
• Desert – spines prevent water
loss and protect plant
• Cold climates - needles
Stem
• Function:
– Support for life on land
– Carries food/water through plant
(through vascular tissues)
– Holds up flowers and leaves
– Goes through some photosynthesis
Stem
• Adaptations:
– Some are made of wood for support and
protection
Roots
• Function:
– Anchors plant to ground (life on land)
– Absorbs water and nutrients from ground
– Stores food (glucose)
Roots
• Adaptations:
– Desert plants have shallow roots to quickly absorb
any rain that falls
Flower
• Function:
– Contains sexual parts (reproduction)
Flower
• Adaptations:
– Attracting pollinators
• Flowers are brightly colored and/or have odor
Fruit
• Ripened Ovary
• Function:
– Contains seeds
– Sometimes tastes good for animals to eat (seed
dispersal)
Seeds
• Function:
– Holds, protects, and
feeds embryo
– Has method for dispersal
Plant Diversity
• 2 Major Categories:
– Nonvascular – lack vascular tissue (tubes that
transport food, water, and minerals throughout
plant)
– Vascular – have vascular tissue – xylem and
phloem (tubes that transport food, water, and
minerals throughout plant)
Nonvascular
• Mosses, liverworts, hornworts
• Must be very short and live in moist
environments
– Water and nutrients travel from one cell to
another by diffusion and osmosis
Vascular
• Tissues:
– Xylem = carries water from roots to leaves
– Phloem = carries food from leaves to roots
Vascular
• Usually taller than ¼ inch (have stems to
support vascular tissue)
• Some produce spores for reproduction
• Some produce seeds to reproduce
Vascular
• Spores:
– Ferns and Horsetails
Vascular
• Seeds:
– Gymnosperms = most are cone-producing and
have needles
• Seeds are exposed (not protected)
– Angiosperms = Flower producing plants
• “Angie likes flowers”
• Seeds are encased in a coat (protected)
Gymnosperms
• Conifers (pine, fir, spruce)
Balsam fir
Giant redwood
Cycad
Ginkgo
Gymnosperm Fertilization
• Pollen fertilizes ovule, seed develops on the
scale of a cone, scales open enough to allow
seed to be carried by wind
– Wind dispersal
Angiosperm
• Oak, Maple, Peas, Lotus, etc.
Angiosperm Fertilization
• Pollen enters the top of
the pistil and travels
down to fertilize the
ovule.
• Seeds develop into ovary
(fruit)
• Animal dispersal
Plants
No
Larger than ¼
inch?
Nonvascular
Yes
Vascular
No
Seeds?
Yes
Spore-producing
Seed-producing
No
Gymnosperm
Seeds with Yes
coat?
Angiosperm
Plant Walk!
Plant Name
1. Fern
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Vascular
Seeds
Angio/Gymno?
Fern