Embryophytes

Clade

Clade

A grouping that includes a common ancestor and all the descendants. Also called a monophyletic group.

Paraphyletic Group

A grouping that includes the descendants or lineages of multiple ancestors.

Division

A taxonomic rank in biological classification that is often used in botany, considered equivalent to a phylum.

Ephemeral

Short-lived or temporary

Desiccation

The process of losing moisture.

Mitosis

Cell division during which the cell nucleus divides and the number of chromosome sets is retained.

Meiosis

Process in which the number of chromosomes per cell is cut in half through the separation of chromosomes sets.

Diploid (2n)

The state when an organism has 2 sets of chromosomes.

Haploid (n)

The state when an organism has only a single set of unpaired chromosomes

Marchantiophyta, Bryophyta, & Anthocerophyta

The three divisions in the "Bryophyte" grouping.

Capsule

The structure where developing spores are housed.

Operculum

The lid-like structure of a capsule that pops off when spores have matured.

Waxy Cuticle

An external waterproof layer that prevents desiccation.

Apical Meristem

Tissue at the tips of the plant that supplies cells for the plant to grow in length.

Rhizoid

A thin, root-like structure that acts as an anchor and absorbs water and nutrients.

Stomata

Small openings on the exterior of a plant through which oxygen and carbon dioxide can move.

Peristome Teeth

A ring of interlocking, tooth-like structures on the upper part of a moss capsule, often specialized for spore discharge.

Antheridia

Structures in plants that produce male gametes.

Archegonia

Structures in plants that produce female gametes.

Sporophyte

The 2n generation of the plant life cycle.

Gametophyte

The n generation of the plant life cycle.

Spore

A type of small reproductive cell that is able to grow into a new organism when released/dispersed.

Bryophyta

The division that includes true mosses.

Anthocerophyta

The division that includes hornworts.

Marchantiophyta

The division that includes liverworts.

Marchantiophyta

The division that lacks stomata, has a single-celled rhizoid, and has a 4-valved capsule.

Bryophyta

The division that has a capsule with an operculum and peristome teeth.

Anthocerophyta

The division that has a horn-shaped sporophyte with a meristem at the sporophyte base.

Tracheophytes

The clade of vascular plants.

Roots

Organs in vascular plants that are specialized for the uptake of water and nutrients. Often have apical meristems.

Stems

Branching structures with vascular tissues that can produce leaves and sporangia.

Leaves

The flat, photosynthetic organs of vascular plants.

Lignin

Substance in vascular plants that makes cell walls rigid.

Mycorrhizae

The symbiotic fungi associated with the roots of plants that aids in water, mineral, and nutrient aborption. Aids in chemical communication between plants.

Microphylls

The small, single-veined leaves of some seedless vascular plants that likely evolved from sporangia.

Euphylls or Megaphylls

True leaves with highly branches veins.

Circinnate Vernation

A term that describes how developing leaves or fronds roll up with the tip in the center.

Lycophytes & Monilophytes

The two divisions of seedless, vascular plants.

Lycophytes

The division that includes club mosses and spike mosses.

Monilophytes

The division that includes ferns.

Lycophytes

The division that has tiny, single-veined leaves.

Monilophytes

The division that has leaves with circinnate vernation.

Spermatophytes

The clade of seed-producing plants.

Seeds

Mature ovule that contains an embryo, with stored food enclosed in a protective coat.

Nucellus

Haploid(n) nutritive tissue made prior to fertilization (Gymnosperms).

Endosperm

Triploid (3n) nutritive tissue made after fertilization (Angiosperms).

Pollen

The tiny granules that contain the male gametophyte of seed plants.

Vascular Tissue

Specialized, tubular transport tissues in plants going from roots to leaves.

Xylem

Vascular tissue that carries water upward from the roots to every part of a plant.

Phloem

Vascular tissue that carries nutrients throughout a plant.

Wood

The structural material formed from the vascular cambium that transports water and minerals from the roots throughout plant. Also called secondary xylem.

Gymnosperms

Seed plants that bear their seeds directly on the surfaces of structures like cones.

Cycadophyta, Ginkgophyta, Gnetophyta, & Coniferophyta

The 4 divisions of Gymnosperms.

Angiosperms (Anthophyta)

A flowering plant which forms seeds inside a protective chamber called an ovary.

Flowers

The seed bearing structures of angiosperms that aid in pollination.

Fruit

A secondary stage of a flower that protects seeds and aids in their dispersal.

Tracheophytes

The group of plants that are sporophyte dominant.

"Bryophytes"

The group of plants that are gametophyte dominant.

Embryos, Spores, Seeds & Pollen, Flowers & Fruit

The reproductive adaptations of land plants in order from most ancestral to most derived.

Robust bodies & Waxy cuticles, Vasculature & True Leaves, Wood

The survival adaptations of land plants in order from most ancestral to most derived.

Streptophyes

Simple and complex, Some freshwater “Green Algae”, Plus all land plants.

Synapomorphies

a characteristic present in an ancestral species and shared exclusively (in more or less modified form) by its evolutionary descendants. (DNA, Spindle Microtubes, Cell structure, Sperm Morphology.

Embryophytes

Land plants that dominate Earth

Cycadophyta

Palm tree like plants, TOXIC, shrubs/short trees/ circinate. Mutualistic with Cyano Bacteria. Coralloid looking roots

Ginkophyta

Bilobed Leaves, 1 extent, Restant to the elements, Flagellated sperm, Dioecious (Male and Female parts)

Gnetophyta

Desert adapted, 3 Families (divisions), Dioecious. Rain forest adapted

Gnetum

Sub division of Gnetophyta; Have Xylem, Evergreens, shrubby, tropical

Ephedra

Sub division of Gnetophyta; Large, Desert, flowerlike micro-sporangium, Stimulant. METHANPHEDIMINE

Welwitschia Mirabilis

Sub division of Gnetophyta; Desert, 2 leaves, 1 extent, lives long, has taproot.

Coniferophyta

cones, dominant at high elevations, needle leaves, have resin (poisonous and sticky), tolerant, fire-adapted, monoecious, cone shape tree, winged seeds, male cones simple and small; female cones complex and large, reproduce via cones (megasporangium makes eggs, spores from microsporangium fertilize eggs, eggs germinate, zygote forms and seed now has embryo)

anthophyta

fruits and flowers, unknown when they evolved, complex xylem, net venation, double fertilization (one sperm fertilizes the egg, creating a zygote. the other sperm creates the endosperm for nutrition of embryo). reproduce via flowers (anther shoots pollen, falls onto stigma, germinates on stigma, produces pollen tube, pollen tube delivers sperm to egg)