Question

4. List the characteristics characteristics that distinguish the four major groups of plants: then provide an example of a plant within each groun et ta eynlanations for the observation that b..

Answer 1

Plants are classified in to 2 major types: Non vascular and Vascular

Non vascular includes Phylum Bryophyta

Vascular includes other 3 types: Phylum Pteridophyta, Gymnosperms

and Angiosperms

1. Bryophytes

• considered the simplest among all phyla
• physical appearance: small inconspicuous
• lack vascular tissue and wood : no structural support
• lack true leaves, stem and roots
• regarding habits: related to lichens : absorb moisture in environment to transport nutrients
• habitat: live in moist places
• reproduce through spores
• examples : mosses, liverworts, hornworts

2. Pteridophytes

• possess vascular tissues : xylem and phloem to transport water and minerals
• reproduction: seedless plants : produces spores located on underside of their leaves known as sporophylls
• physical appearance: extremely diverse : leaves are called fronds, horizontal stems called rhizomes and have simple leaves roots.
• habitat: can be aquatic, terrestrial, even cold resistant, but most of them prefer tropical regions
• examples : True ferns and fern allies, Salvinia Natans, Horsetail

3. Gymnosperms

• physical appearance: tallest, thickest and oldest living plants, have wood, green needle like or scale like foliage
• habitat: temperate and arctic regions
• reproduction: name gymnosperm means naked seed, members have cones( or strobilus) instead of seeds, heterosporous having smaller male cones and larger female cones.
• posses vascular tissues
• good source of wood and paper
• examples: pines, hemlocks, firs, spruces, Giant Sequioa tree, Sago palm, Maidenhair tree

4. Angiosprems

• vascular plants
• physical appearance and habitat: flowering plants, most diverse including trees, herbs, shrubs, bulbs, epiphytes, plants living in both marine and fresh water habitat
• reproduction: seeds are enclosed within fruit, possess double fertilization leading to formation of endosperm, male reproductive tissue composes of two pairs of pollen sacs
• good sources of food, medicine, clothing fibres and wood
• examples: water lily, cosmos flower, sunflower