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.

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 Ecosystem

Angiosperms 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.