Diversity in the plant
kingdom
© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Bryophyta
Small terrestrial plants restricted to damp
habitats
 Water is needed for fertilisation
 Spores ensure dispersal

© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Bryophyta
Hepaticae the liverworts
 Prostrate thallus with rhizoids

www.flwildflowers.com/flwildflowers.html
© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Bryophyta
Musci the mosses
 Erect stem with leaflets +/- rhizoids

© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
http://www.univ-ubs.fr/
Filicinophyta the ferns
Water still needed for fertilisation
 Spores ensure dispersal
 Vascular plants
 Lignified tissue (wood) may be present
 Differentiated into: leaves, stem, roots,
rhizome

© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Filicinophyta
procosara.org/san_rafael_en,photo,64?PHPSESSI...
www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/ferns/index.html
Coniferophyta the conifers
Vascular plants
 Seed plants
 Seeds contain a food
store for an embryo
inside protective coat
 Seeds ensure
dispersal
 Naked seeds born in
cones

http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2006/forest_changes_prt.htm
© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Coniferophyta
http://www.nearctica.com/trees/conifer/places/eastern.htm
Araucaria sp. (Monkey-puzzle)
http://www.britannica.com/ebc/art-21824/Monkey-puzzle-tree
Angiospermophyta the flowering
plants




Vascular plants
Seed plants
Seeds protected by an
ovary which becomes
a fruit
Fruit, a structure that
encourages seed
dispersal
© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Summary
Feature
Bryophyta
Filicinophyta
Coniferophyta
Angiospermophyta
Common
name
Mosses
Ferns
Conifers
Flowering plants
Leaves
Scales
Yes
Yes
Yes
Rhizoids
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Woody
tissue
Small
Yes
Yes
Yes
Waxy
cuticle
Damp
habitats
Yes
Yes
Yes
Roots
Vascular
system
Water for
fertilisation
Yes
Yes
No
No
Seeds
No
No
Yes
Yes
Cones
No
No
Yes
No
Fruit
No
No
No
Yes
© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Dicotyledons & Monocotyledons
Angiosperms are divided into two groups
 The basic distinguishing feature are
embryonic leaves (coytledons)
 Cotyledons are found in the seeds of these
plants

© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Dicotyledon seed
Seed coat or
testa
Cotyledons
acting as a food
reserve
Plumule
(to become the first true leaf)
© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Micropyle
Radicle
(to become the first root)
Monocotyledon seed
Seed coat
Endosperm
(food reserve)
Cotyledon
Plumule
Radicle
© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Dicots v Monocots – other differences
Dicotyledons
Monocotyledons
Tap roots and lateral
branches
Fibrous adventitious
roots
Net-veined leaves
Parallel-veined leaves
© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Dicots v Monocots – other differences
Dicotyledons
Monocotyledons
Vascular tissue in a ring Vascular tissue scattered
round the stem Vascular throughout stem
Cortex
Vascular
tissue
tissue
Pith
Epidermis
Flowers with
multiples
of 4 or
5 organs
© 2008 Paul Billiet ODWS
Flowers with
multiples
of 3 organs