jimtrue.com : school : BSC2011L : Lab 05: Plantae II - Vascular Plants (Seedless, Non-Flowering & Flowering Plants)
Posted by Jim True on October 5, 2004 2:32 PM. Last Updated October 22, 2006 9:23 PM
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Vascular Plants - Three groups (sporophyte generation is dominant form)
Earliest flagellated sperm, still associated with wet or aquatic environments
Seedless, vascular plants (Pterophyta - winged plant, ferns), asexual and sexual alternation of generation of plants. Sexually produced reproductive structure is called Prothallus (heart shaped), about the size of a typed letter 'o' this is the gametophyte generation. Bear on some species antheridia and archegonia on same structure, other specie. Rhizoids are the hairlike structures (not root hairs) to keep the prothallus anchored to the soil which keeps the Archegonia and antheridia underneath, in the water). Bears the antheridia and/or archegonia (on some species they will be separated on separate prothallus). Sporophyte is fern - produces n spores by meiosis within special structures on the underside of the frond. Individually known as sorus (sori).
Sphenophyta (horsetails) - similiar spore production methods
Lycophyta (club "mosses") - similar spore productionn methods
Gymnosperms - Seed producing plants
Seed - diploid zygote (or embryonic plant) enclosed with a food supply inside a special protective coat.
Two biological groupings of seed producing plants.
Non-flowering seed producing vascular plants, gymnosperms, seeds held exposed to the environment once they are mature. Cone bearing trees, pines, cedars, hemlocks, redwoods, etc. Conifer trees
Coniferophyta - cones are open because they have already released their seeds. Look at seed structure and male/female reproductive structures.
In almost all seed plants, male gametophyte is pollen grain (microscopic structure) - sperm are non-motile. Water not needed for reproduction. Tend to be found in very compact forests. Sperm is transmitted by wind.
Primitive gymnosperms - monotypic phylum (Ginkgophyta (only one genera in the phylum). Only reason they still exist is due to human intervention; only exist because of human cultivation.
Cycadophyta - few 100 species. Ruled the earth in dinosaur times.
Cycads & Gingkoes have flagellated sperm. Do require moister environments. Gingkoes much more a northern temperature species; cycads are more tropical.
flowering seed producing vascular plants (Angiosperms); most diverse of all plants. roughly 250,000 fall into angiosperms (vessel seeds); Seeds are encased in a special structure we call 'fruit'.
Anthophyta - "flower" plant, monocots & dicots.
Class Monocotyledones - monocots
Class Dicotyledones - dicots
Flower - Sexual reproductive organ(s) of flowering plants. Up to four different parts:
Sepals - enclose and support the bud (usually green).
Petals - colored parts, visual attractors for pollinators (neither of these have anything to do with reproductive structures).
Anther - Stalks bear pollen
Carpel - Female reproductive part of a flower (carpal is bone in the hand; carpel is in the flower); female reproductive structure, ovary, ovule, etc. Sperm bore their way through the carpel; release enzyme that breaks down carpel.
Fruit - tissues, usually from the ovary that encase the seed. Vegetable is any edible root, leave or stem. Seed-bearing are fruit. Seedless varieties are genetically bred to be sterile and not produce seeds. Some fruits are still fleshy and moist when seeds are mature; some seeds don't mature until the fruit is dried and withered.
Fowering plants, sexual reproduction is enhanced by flowers; fruit is the dispersal mechanism for seeds (embryos). Quite capable of 'asexual reproduction' as well. St Augustine grass, with long rope like strands (asexual reproduction), stollen or runner.
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