Sunday, January 22, 2012

Major Plant Divisions


Bryophytes
                        These plants are composed of liverworts, hornworts, and mosses.  Bryophyte plants have dominant gametophyte generations are larger and longer living than their sporophyte generations.  In fact, their sporophyte generations are dependent on the gametophytes for nutrition and shelter.  Bryophytes are nonvascular plants so they are unable to grow fairly tall and typically  will be shorter flat plants.  

 
Seedless Vascular Plants
                                    These plants have developed tubes inside them that allow them to transport minerals, nutrients, and water to different areas of the plant.  Made out of xylem and phloem, these plants are more able to stand upright and grow taller to be more competitive in gathering sunlight and nutrients in their environment.  These plants demonstrate a steady shift from dominant gametophyte generations to longer sporophyte generations that rely less on the gametophytes.


 
Gymnosperms
                        Gymnosperms include plants like conifers, pines, etc.. Their seeds are considered naked seeds and lack an enclosed ovary.  As such they are typically called naked seed plants.  In conifers, the seeds are grown on cones.  Gymnosperms have very small and very short gametophyte generations.  The sporophyte is now the largest and more noticeable part of the plant.









 
 
Angiosperms
                        The angiosperms are considered the flowering and fruiting plants.  These plants have enclosed ovaries that allow them to protect their embryos.  Angiosperms are divided into monocots and dicots.  Angiosperms utilize flowers to attract insects and animals to aid in the process of pollination and fertilization.  Angiosperms also grow fruits to protect their seeds.  Fruits have also evolved to aid the spread of species by means of both animal and environmental aids.

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