CH 29: Tracheophytes (Non-Seed Producing Plants)

Question 1

What are Tracheophytes?

Answer 1

Vascular plants

• possess tracheids for water/mineral conduction
• vascular tissues in stems, roots, leaves
• Include Non-seed producing plants and seed producing plants

Question 2

What makes up the typical Tracheophyte structure?

Answer 2

(first land plants with true roots, stems, leaves)

Stems

• produce leaves and sporangia
• contain xylem and phloem

Roots
-specialized for uptake of water/minerals from soil

Leaves
-photosynthesis

Question 3

Why are Tracheophytes better suited for life on land than Bryophytes?

Answer 3

1. Xylem and phloem
2. Lignin
3. Thick waxy cuticle
4. Fully functional stomata
5. Profuse branching via apical meristems
6. Highly differentiated plant tissues and organs

Question 4

What are Xylem and Phloem?

Answer 4

Vascular tissue

• tracheids: cells in xylem that transport water
• thick cell walls made of lignin for structural support

Question 5

What are Lignin?

Answer 5

• Hard rigid substance (wood)

- Provides support & structure for plants

Question 6

What is a Thick waxy cuticle?

Answer 6

• Adapted to conserve water (prevent dessication)

- Cutin in the cuticle blocks pathogens

Question 7

What is a Fully functional stomata?

Answer 7

Stomata: pores that open/close to allow gas exchange while minimizing water loss
-lets CO2 in and lets O2 out

Question 8

What is Profuse branching via apical meristems?

Answer 8

Plants grow from many places

• protects from herbivory
• grows from meristems
• maximizes growth in areas that are conducive to growth

Question 9

What is Highly differentiated plant tissues and organs?

Answer 9

Dermal Tissue
-protection and prevents water loss

Ground Tissue
-photosynthesis, food storage, regeneration, support, protection

Vascular Tissue
-Transport water, minerals, food

Question 10

What are Lycophytes and Pteridophytes?

Answer 10

Non-seed producing vascular plants that reproduce using spores
-Sporophyte grows out of Gametophyte but gametophyte dies off once sporophyte can photosynthesize

Question 11

What are the characteristics of Lycopodiophyta?

Answer 11

Oldest living vascular plant division

-Two orders: Lycopodiales and Selaginellales

Question 12

What are the characteristics of Pteridophyta?

Answer 12

Ferns

-Can grow tall and have huge spreading leaves

Question 13

What environments can Ferns live in?

Answer 13

Can live in drier areas than Bryophytes but need water to reproduce

• reproduce by releasing spores rather than seeds
• limited by dry conditions like bryophytes
• produce more spores due to their larger sporophyte generation

Question 14

What is the origin of land plants essential for?

Answer 14

1) Development of substantial soils
2) Evolution of modern plants
3) Animals colonizing lands

Question 15

What are the 3 steps to plants conquering land?

Answer 15

1. First land plants arise from algae and begin to adapt to terrestrial habitats
2. Seedless plants transform earth’s ecology
   - NO2 from atmosphere into soil
   - CO2 out of atmosphere and O2 into atmosphere
   - Change temperature
3. Ancient cataclysm led to diversification of modern angiosperm lineages (K/T boundary)

Question 16

How did first land plants begin to adapt?

Answer 16

-Adapted genes for heat and drought tolerance
-Also developed
tissue-producing meristems, sporic life cycle, tough-walled spores, sporophyte generation

Question 17

Which evolution is more complex, non-vascular to vascular or lycophyte to angiosperm?

Answer 17

Lycophyte to angiosperm evolution was more genetically complex

Question 18

Lycophytes and angiosperms produce secondary metabolites, what are they?

Answer 18

Chemicals produced by plants for which have no effect on primary functions

• communicate with other plants
• protect from herbivores or pathogens
• potential source of new pharmaceuticals

Question 19

What are the ecological effects of bryophytes?

Answer 19

• Removes CO2 and adds O2 to atmosphere

- dominated land for millions of years

Question 20

What are the ecological effects of Tracheophytes?

Answer 20

• Converted huge amounts of atmospheric CO2 into organic material (coal)
• Removal of CO2 from atmosphere had cooling effect
• Air became drier b/c cold air holds less moisture
• Occured during Carboniferous period (354-290 mya)
• Plants/fungi dominate earth

Question 21

What caused the rise of angiosperms?

Answer 21

K/T event (ancient cataclysm from meteorite)

• marks end of Cretaceous period and beginning of Tertiary
• ash, smoek dimmed sunlight long enough to kill most plants
• dinosaurs die and surviving flower plants diversified

Question 22

What are the critical innovations in plant evolution?

Answer 22

New features that encouraged diversification of plant phyla:

• Move to land led to Embryos
• Vascular tissue led to Leaves
• Drier areas and less water led to Seeds