🌱 Plant Groups Flashcards

• Flagellated sperm

Motile gametes requiring water for dispersal; found in bryophytes and ferns.

• Spores

Haploid reproductive cells with sporopollenin walls; dispersed by wind/water; no stored food.

• Pollen grains

Male gametophytes protected by sporopollenin; dispersed by wind/animals; water-independent fertilization.

• Seeds (naked)

Embryo + food supply + protective coat; gymnosperms; exposed on cones.

• Seeds (covered)

Embryo + food + coat enclosed in fruit; angiosperms; fruit aids dispersal.

• Synapomorphies of all plants

Alternation of generations, multicellular embryos, apical meristems, walled spores.

• Vascular tissue

Xylem and phloem for transport and support; allowed upright growth.

• Seeds

Protect and nourish embryo; enable dormancy and dispersal.

• Pollen

Male gametophyte adapted for fertilization without water.

• Flowers

Specialized reproductive organs; attract pollinators; increase diversity.

• Cycads

Palm-like, large cones, tropical/subtropical; example: Zamia in southeastern U.S.

• Conifers

Needle/scale leaves, cones, evergreen; example: pines (Pinus) in Georgia.

• Ginkgos

Fan-shaped leaves, resistant to pollution; example: Ginkgo biloba (ornamental in urban areas).

• Distinguishing feature

Flowers (reproductive organ unique to angiosperms).

• Flower parts

Sepals (protection), petals (attraction), stamens (anther + filament, male), carpels (stigma, style, ovary, female).

• Function

Flowers aid pollination (animal/wind vectors), ovary develops into fruit for seed dispersal.

• Diversity

Coevolution with pollinators drives angiosperm radiation and ecological success.

• Pollination

Transfer of pollen to stigma (angiosperms) or ovule (gymnosperms).

• Fertilization

Sperm nucleus fuses with egg nucleus → zygote.

• Seed dispersal

Wind, water, animals, or fruit mechanisms spread seeds.

• Germination

Seed absorbs water, embryo resumes growth, root/shoot emerge.

• Cotyledons for Monocots

1

• Cotyledons for Eudicots

2

• Leaf venation for Monocots

Parallel

• Leaf venation for Eudicots

Net-like

• Vascular tissue for Monocots

Scattered bundles

• Vascular tissue for Eudicots

Ring arrangement.

• Root type for Monocots

Fibrous roots

• Root type for Eudicots

Taproot system

• Petals

Multiples of 3

• Petals for Eudicots

Multiples of 4 or 5.