Introduction to Dendrology

  • Vascular Plants

    • Trees, Shrubs, Lianas

    • Gymnosperms and Angiosperms

  • Plant Anatomy and Morphology

    • Leaves

    • Stems

    • Roots

    • Reproductive organs

Vascular Plant Evolution

  • Land plants evolved 475 million years ago from alga

  • Vascular plants evolved about 425 million years ago

  • Seed plants evolved about 360 mya

  • Vascular plants do not just include angiosperms or gymnosperms. Other vascular plants are neither

  • 300,000 vascular plants described and named

  • Shared characteristics of angiosperms and gymnosperms: vascular tissue, common ancestor, Kingdom Plantae, and seed-bearing

Plant Anatomy and Morphology

  • Plants have 4 different types of tissue

    • Leaves

    • Stems

    • Roots

    • Reproductive organs

  • We will start with leaves, which are helpful for identification

  • Lianas: woody vines