Plants

Question 1

Bryophyte (mosses) characteristics

Answer 1

• Non-vascular plants
• No true roots
• No vascular tissue
• Absorbs water through air
• Tend to be seen in Damp, moist, shady areas (marshes, woodlands)
• I.e., liverworts, hornworts, etc.

Question 2

Bryophyte role in ecosystem

Answer 2

• Maintain moisture
• Absorb water in capillary spaces
• Keep conditions humid in soil
• Help plants grow
• Temperature of soil
• Protect tree roots
• Keep ice cold

Question 3

Bryophyte reproduction

Answer 3

• Mosses show an alternation of generations (metagenesis) which includes:
• Gametophytic (sexual)
  Requires wet conditions (rain or heavy dew)
• Sporophytic (asexual)

Question 4

Haploid Gametophyte Generation

Answer 4

• The gametophyte generations of bryophytes produce swimming sperm in structures called antheridia and eggs in structures called archegonia
• Bryophytes can only live and reproduce in places with at least occasional wet conditions, such as rains or heavy dew
• The green plants we recognize as mosses are the photosynthetic gametophyte individuals

Question 5

Diploid Sporophyte Generation

Answer 5

• After fertilization, the new, non-photosynthetic sporophyte individuals grow out of the archegonia on the female gametophyte and get their nourishment from the gametophyte
• These sporophytes seem to be part of the gametophyte but are actually the offspring of the gametophyte plants
• The sporophytes grow a tall stalk that bears a structure called a sporangium, in which haploid spores are produced. These tiny spores are easily carried by winds and dispersed over a large area

Question 6

Pteridophytes (ferns) characteristics

Answer 6

• Seedless, vascular plants (Have Xylem and Phloem)
• Disperse spores because they produce neither flowers nor seeds
• Extremely diverse in form, and reproductive methods.
• The sizes of them also range greatly

Question 7

Pteridophytes reproduction

Answer 7

• Happens sexually and asexually
  Has 2 phases:
• Gametophytic phase (tiny) = sexual
• Sporophytic phase (much larger) = asexual
  How it works:
• Sporangium produce spores through meiosis
• Spores travel, land, anchor with rhizoids and grow into a young gametophyte
• Produces both the male and female sex organs (Antheridium and Archegonium).
• A Zygote is formed and grows into a Sporophyte.
• Repeat

Question 8

Pteridophytes habitat

Answer 8

• Moist shady forests
• Crevices in rocks
• Acid wetlands
• Tropical forests

Question 9

What are gymnosperms (conifers)

Answer 9

• Gymnosperms are a group of plants that produce seeds but do not have flowers or fruits. Their seeds are typically not enclosed in a protective ovary and are often exposed on the surface of cones or other structures.
• I.e. Pine trees, evergreen, etc

Question 10

Gymnosperm reproduction

Answer 10

• Male pine cones release pollen
• The pollen then fertilizes the female cones which are on the same tree
• When fertilized, an embryo develops inside a seed within the female cone
• It takes about two years for the seeds to be produced
• Animals, like squirrels, or the even the wind will scatter the seeds around

Question 11

What are angiosperms (flowering plants)

Answer 11

• Flowering plants that produce flowers and fruit.
• They are the most diverse and widespread group of plants on Earth, comprising more than 300,000 species.

Question 12

Angiosperm reproduction

Answer 12

• Reproduce with eggs and pollen
• Can reproduce by self pollination.
• This is when pollen falls on the stigma of the same flower.
• A seed will be produced that turns into a genetically identical plant.
• Can reproduce by cross-fertilization.
• This is when pollen from one flower travels to another to a stigma of a flower on another plant