Biology
Plant Evolution
Use the following character table to fill in the evolutionary (phylogenetic) tree. Use the organisms’ names on the
right-hand side and the shared derived characters on each branch.
CHARACTERS
Conifers
Cuticle & stomata
X
Vascular Tissue
X
Green
Algae
Moss
Deciduous
Trees,
grasses
Ferns
X
X
X
X
X
Flowers &
Fruit
Seeds
common
ancestor
X
X
X
Total # of
shared, derived
characters
1.
What was the common ancestor of all land plants?
2.
Which adaptations were necessary before plants could survive on land? Explain.
3.
What are the simplest land plants that possess these characteristics?
4.
Which adaptation came next that freed plants from needing to use only diffusion for distribution of
water and food?
5.
Describe the advantages that this would give when competing with established plants.
6.
Which plants were the first to possess this characteristic?
7.
Spores evolved with the first land plants and are the simplest (and most primitive) form of reproduction
on land. Name the adaptation that was an “upgrade” from spores.
8.
Name the first plants to use this adaptation.
9.
Flowers and fruit are the most recent adaptation for reproduction on land. List the advantages that are
gained by having these two adaptations.
10.
Which kind of plant uses flowers and fruits?
11. Which type of plant is the most successful today?
12. How is biological success among plants determined?
13. Draw and label the reproductive parts of a flower. Which parts are male and female?
Mrs. Loyd 
cloyd@waukee.k12.ia.us
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7/12/2016
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