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

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• 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