Plant Divisions

Characteristics of Plants

1. Nonvascular Plants – do not have roots, stems or leavesa. NO Vascular tissue!

2. Vascular Plants – contain vascular tissue that transport food and water through the plant

A. nonvascular and seedless plants

1. Simple root less plants

2. Nonvascular

3. Seedless

4. Leaf like structures

5. rhizoids – root like structures

6. Examples: moss and liverworts (the bryophytes!)

Importance of mosses:

1. They are called the pioneer species – grow in new areasa. Are the first plants to grow back

after a forest fire and volcanic eruptions

b. They break down rocks and put nutrients into the earth so other plants can grow.

Moss life cycle – alternation of generations

1. Sporophyte produce spores by meisosis in the capsule.

2. The spore capsule releases spores that produce gametophytes in the soil.

3. Gametophyte makes both sperm and egg

4. Sperm fertilize the egg = zygote5. Zygote divides by mitosis and creates a

sporophyte

B. seedless vascular plants

1. Vascular tissue to transport materials

2. No seeds, still have spores

3. Bigger and thicker than moss

4. Examples: horsetails and ferns

Ferns

1. Ferns have a true stems, roots, and leaves

2. Leaf part called a “FROND”

3. Produce spores

4. Biggest group of seedless vascular plants

Life cycle of ferns – alternation of generations

1. Spore forms a Gametophyte called a prothallius.

2. Prothallius forms gametes (sperm and egg)

3. Sperm is released and swim to female reproductive structures = fertilization

4. Zygote forms a new sporophyte by mitosis

5. Sporophyte (fern) produces spores by meioisis

Spores

Importance of Ferns

1. Peat bogs – spongy, wet ground that is composed mainly of dead plants who can’t decay because of lack of oxygen

a. Preserved animals and plants

2. Peat – used a fuel

QUESTIONS

1. The rootlike filaments that hold moss plants in place are called ___________.

2. The continual cycle that alternates between the sporophyte and gametophyte of the moss plant is called ___________.

3. Horse tails and ferns are considered to be __________ vascular plants.

4. The leaf of a fern is called a ___________.