Flowers

Question 1

What are some of the challenges faced by land plants?

Answer 1

• Harvesting light energy
• Getting out of water
• Staying wet when things get dry
• Dealing with gravity
• Competition
• Leveraging resources.

Question 2

What does the term “angiosperm” mean in Greek?

Answer 2

• “Angeion” means “vessel”
• “sperma” means “seed”

Question 3

When do angiosperms first appear in the fossil record?

Answer 3

Approximately 174 million years ago

Question 4

How many species of angiosperms are there, and why are they significant?

Answer 4

There are approximately 369,400 species, making them the most abundant and successful group of plants

Question 5

What are key evolutionary innovations that helped angiosperms dominate land

Answer 5

• Improved conducting tissue (vessel elements)
• More efficient leaf plumbing (venation)
• Deciduous leaves
• Leaves became more diverse and specialized

Question 6

What is another name for angiosperms?

Answer 6

Flowering plants

Question 7

What is the life cycle of annual plants?

Answer 7

• They complete their entire life cycle within a single growing season.
• This includes germination from seeds, growth to maturity, flowering, seed production, and eventually death, all in the span of one year or less

Question 8

How long does it take for biennial plants to complete their life cycle?

Answer 8

• Two growing seasons.
• During the first growing season, they typically focus on vegetative growth, producing leaves, roots, and stems to store energy.
• In the second growing season, the plants utilize this stored energy to produce flowers, fruits, and seeds before dying

Question 9

What defines perennial plants?

Answer 9

They have a life cycle that takes several to many growing seasons or produce flowers on new growth while other plant parts persist indefinitely

Question 10

Into which two large classes are flowering plants (angiosperms) divided?

Answer 10

• Magnoliopsida (previously called “Dicots”)
• Liliopsida (previously called “Monocots”)