Major Lineages of Land Plants & Their Defining Characteristics

Land plants (Embryophytes) evolved from green algae and adapted to life on land through key innovations like a cuticle (to prevent water loss) and protected embryos.

Bryophytes (Non-Vascular Plants) examples

Mosses, liverworts, hornworts

Bryophytes (Non-Vascular Plants) key traits

- No vascular tissue (rely on diffusion for water/nutrients)  

  - Dominant gametophyte stage  

  - Need water for reproduction (flagellated sperm)  

  - Spores, not seeds 

Lycophytes (Seedless Vascular Plants) examples

Club mosses, spike mosses, quillworts 

Lycophytes (Seedless Vascular Plants) key traits

  - Vascular tissue (xylem and phloem)  

  - Dominant sporophyte stage  

  - Microphyll leaves (single vein)  

  - Reproduce with spores (not seeds)  

Monilophytes (Ferns & Relatives) examples

 Ferns, horsetails, whisk ferns

Monilophytes (Ferns & Relatives) key traits

  - Vascular tissue  

  - Larger megaphyll leaves (complex venation)  

  - Spores on leaf undersides (sori)  

  - Water still needed for fertilization 

Gymnosperms (Naked Seed Plants) examples

Pines, cycads, ginkgo 

Gymnosperms (Naked Seed Plants) key traits

  - Vascular tissue  

  - Seeds (naked, not enclosed in fruit)  

  - Pollen for fertilization (no water needed)  

  - Dominant sporophyte, reduced gametophyte  

Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) examples

 Roses, grasses, oak trees  

Angiosperms (Flowering Plants) key traits

  - Vascular tissue  

  - Flowers for reproduction  

  - Seeds enclosed in fruit  

  - Double fertilization (forms zygote and endosperm)