plant phylogeny

Kingdom Plantae

Includes all land plants and green algae.

Streptophyta

Group that includes land plants and some green algae, closer relatives to land plants.

Viridiplantae

Group that includes all green algae and land plants.

Bryophytes

Non-vascular plants including mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.

Phylum Bryophyta

The phylum that includes mosses.

Phylum Hepatophyta

The phylum that includes liverworts.

Phylum Anthocerophyta

The phylum that includes hornworts.

Key Characteristics of Bryophytes

Lack vascular tissue, small size, dominant gametophyte stage, reproduce via spores, require water for sperm movement.

Seedless Vascular Plants

Early Tracheophytes including club mosses and ferns.

Phylum Lycophyta

The phylum that includes club mosses, spike mosses, and quillworts.

Phylum Pteridophyta

The phylum that includes ferns, horsetails, and whisk ferns.

Key Characteristics of Seedless Vascular Plants

Have vascular tissue, dominant sporophyte stage, reproduce via spores, require water for reproduction.

Gymnosperms

'Naked Seed' plants such as cycads, ginkgo, and conifers.

Phylum Cycadophyta

The phylum that includes cycads.

Phylum Ginkgophyta

The phylum that includes Ginkgo biloba, the only remaining species.

Phylum Coniferophyta

The phylum that includes conifers like pines and firs.

Phylum Gnetophyta

The phylum that includes gnetophytes like Ephedra and Welwitschia.

Key Characteristics of Gymnosperms

Dominant sporophyte stage, have vascular tissue, reproduce via seeds in cones.

Angiosperms

'Enclosed Seed' plants, also known as flowering plants.

Phylum Anthophyta

The most diverse and dominant plant group today, consisting of angiosperms.

Key Characteristics of Angiosperms

Have vascular tissue, dominant sporophyte stage, reproduce via seeds enclosed in fruit, flowers attract pollinators.

Monocots

Plants with one cotyledon, parallel veins, and floral parts typically in 3s.

Dicots (Eudicots)

Plants with two cotyledons, net-like veins, and floral parts typically in 4s or 5s.

Key Evolutionary Adaptations in Plants

Adaptations that allowed plants to thrive in terrestrial environments.

First Land Plants

Non-vascular plants such as mosses, liverworts, and hornworts.

Vascular Plants Evolve

Involves the evolution of seedless tracheophytes like ferns and club mosses.

Gymnosperms

The first seed plants including conifers, cycads, and ginkgo.

Angiosperms

The most advanced plant group that dominates ecosystems today, particularly in flowering forms.