bio- chapter 28 green algae and land plants

ulvophyceae

important primary produces in freshwater environments and in coastal areas of oceans

charophyceae

form extensive beds on lake bottoms or ponds and provide food for waterfowl and shelter for fish

heavily studied given their close relationship to land plants 

coleochaetophyceae

heavily studied given their close relationship to land plants

zygnematophyceae 

heavily studied given recent evidence indicating their close relationship to land plants

hepaticophyta

thought to resemble first land plants 

their decaying tissues contribute to initial stages of soil formation

bryophyta

partially decayed mosses form large patches of peat which is used as fuel for cooking, heating

sphagnum can hold up to 20 times its weight in water and is a common soil additive

anthocerophyta 

some have symbiotic cyanobacteria at fix nitrogen

lycophyta 

tree-sized lycophytes were abundant during the carboniferous period 

spores of some are flammable and were used as a flash powder for early photography 

Psilophyta

some derive nutrition from symbiotic fungi

used in landscaping especially in Japan

often grows as a weed in greenhouses

pteridophyta

young frons, called “fiddleheads”, are a culinary delicacy 

widely used as ornamental plants 

equisetophyta

stems are rich in abrasive silica granules 

used to scour pots and pans 

(the plants are sometimes called scouring rushes) 

Ginkgophyta

widely planted as ornamentals; resistant to air pollution

leaf extracts used as dietary supplement thought to improve memory, vision, and help maintain overall health

Cycadophyta

roots contain symbiotic cyanobacteria that fix nitrogen

popular landscaping plants

Cupressophyta

cedar wood is commonly used for furniture, decks, or roofing

juniper “berries” are used to flavor gin

chemotherapy drug taxol was originally obtained from bark of yew trees

Pinophyta

dominant plant at high latitudes and high elevation

seeds are source of food for mice, squirrels, and other animals

wood is used for building and paper industry

Gnetophyta

the drug ephedrine was originally isolated from ephedra (also called mormon’s tree) 

welwitschia lives only in the Namib desert and may live up to 1500 years 

Basal angiosperms

evolved before the vast majority of other angiosperms

amborella is considered the sister taxon to all other flowering plants

monocotyledons (monocots)

some of the major crops worldwide are monocots (corn, wheat, rice, sugarcane)

magnoliids

many economically important species used for food, medicines, perfumes, and timber

Eudicotyledons (eudicots)

many economically important species used for food, medicines, perfumes, and timber

most trees in deciduous forests are eudicots