Plants…an Overview!
Importance of Plants:
Agriculture
Prevention of Soil Erosion
Medicines
Mental Health
Clothing & Dyes
Climate Control
Fuels
Tourism
Decoration & Privacy
Hobby
Classifying Plants:
-Aquatic or Terrestrial
-Prevention of Water Loss
-Spores or Seeds
-Vascular or Nonvascular
Nonvascular Plants:
-mostly terrestrial
-produce spores
-need water to reproduce
-very small plants
Phyla:
Bryophyta…mosses
Hepatophyta…liverworts
Anthocerophyta…hornworts
Vascular Seedless Plants:
-have xylem and phloem
-spores
-can grow larger
than nonvascular plants
Phyla:
Psilophyta…whisk ferns
Lycophyta…club mosses
Sphenophyta…horsetails
Pteridophyta…ferns
Vascular Seed Plants:
-gymnosperm or angiosperm
-have xylem and phloem
-seeds
-can be flowering
-can grow larger
than nonvascular plants
Phyla:
Cycadophyta…Cycads (gymnosperm)
Ginkgophyta…Gingkoes (gymnosperm)
Coniferophyta…Conifers (gymnosperm)
Gnetophyta…Cone-bearing, odd (gymnosperm)
Anthophyta…Flowering (angiosperm)
Major Plant Structures:
1. Roots
-Tap
-Fibrous
-Adventitious: grow in uncommon places;
specialized roots
Root Hairs: increase surface area
2. Stems
-woody
-herbaceous
-stolons: Grow along soil surface
-tubers: store energy
-fleshy: store water and carry out
photosynthesis
3. Leaves
-guard cells: regulate gas and water exchange
-stomata: open during the day and close at
night
4. Flowers
-pollination
-fertilization
-seeds and fruits