Kingdom Plantae Introduction

Question 1

Major Characterists of Kindom Plantae

Answer 1

1. Chlorophasts w/ chlorophyll a, b, and beta-carotene (for wider specral sensitivity- in green algae and land plants)
2. Multiple membrane layers in chloroplasts (for more efficient extraction of radiant energy; thylakoid condition)
3. Cellulose Cell Wall (greater protection and structural support)
4. Starch as an energy storage product

Question 2

Cytobacteria

Answer 2

Early unicellular bacteria (prokaryote) in which photosynthesis evolved

Question 3

Thylakoid condition

Answer 3

stacked and flattened vesicles without connection to the inner of 2 membranes enclosing the chloroplast

Question 4

Evidence of Early Competition for Energy Sources in the Aquatic Environment

Answer 4

1. Elongated cells in multicellular algae
2. Increased contractile fibers and cytoplasmic streaming
3. Cellulose, Silicone, and Calcium Carbonate
4. New Niches

1. to reach above neighbors to access sunlight and CO2 in the very surface water; it is easier to diffuse substances within parts of the same cell than to other cells (even if intercellular pores are present)
2. to distribute energy products and gases within cells and between cells. Larger cells mean reduced predation risk and help exposing some plant parts to increased radiant energy
3. used by photosynthetic protists to strengthen their cells membranes, w cellulose becomig the common constituent of the cell well of all land plants
4. untapped resources just cm away in air above

Question 5

Resources that were out of the water, leading to evolution out of the water

Answer 5

1. sunlight unfiltered and unabsorbed by water
2. CO2 more available in air than in H2O
3. Freedom from heterotrophs in the water

Question 6

Important challenges of life on land

Answer 6

1. Dehydration/ getting enough water for photosynthesis
2. Support of plant structure above ground (overcoming gravity)
3. Transport of water within the plant from buried/submerged cells to air-exposed cells
4. Transport of Photosynthate sugars to none photosynthesizing cells (such as root cells)
5. Sexual Reproduction in dry environments where flagellated sperm can’t swim
6. Exposure to Harmful Ultraviolent Radiation (blue end waves- some evolved to absorb these)

Question 7

Major Plantae Groups

Nonvascular Plants without Cuticle

Answer 7

1. Mainly immersed in nearshore and freshwater habitats
2. Phylum Chlorophyta (green algae)
3. No specialized transport tissue

purely aquatic, ex green algae

Charales is an order of green algae believed to be the closest relative to green land plants

Question 8

Major Plantae Groups

Non Vascular Plants with Cuticle

Cuticle gives dehydration resistance but lack of a support structure and vascular tissue means low, sprawling growth (the mosses)

Answer 8

1. Mosses have specialized conducting tubular cells
2. First Phyla to have stoma
3. Water/nutrient intake and intercellular transport is mainly by diffusion
4. Gametophyte (haploid) is dominant life cycle stage
5. 3 Phyla- mosses, liverworts, hornworts

***stoma evolved at this lvl

largest phylum is brophyta (mosses), are the first land plants but not ancestors of higher plants

Question 9

Major Plantae Groups

Vascular, seedless plants

first with true vascular tissue, grow to greater heights than non-vascular plants; still limited sexually bc of flagellated sperm

Answer 9

1.Vascular System
2.Sporophyte (diploid) is dominant life-style stage (same as all higher land plants)
3. 4 phyla- Club mosses, ferns, horsetails, whisk ferns

***vascular system evolved at this lvl

largest phylum is pteridophyta (ferns)- oldest vascular system w largest leaves and many epiphytes (plants that grow on top of other plants)

Question 10

Vascular, Naked Seed Plants (Gymnosperms)

innovation of pollen (air borne sperm) and dehydration resistant seeds enable greater freedom and dispersal of sexual reproduction on land

Answer 10

1. Seed as 1st major innovation
2. Pollen as 2nd major innovation
3. Cones of males (small) and females (large) usually in separate trees
4. Needles
5. Four Phyla: Cycads, Ginkgos, Gnetophytes, Conifers (Spruces, Firs, Conifers)

*** seed and pollen evolved at this level

Largest Phylum is Coniferophyta, includes the larges (redwood and sequoia) + oldest (bristle cone pine) plants

Question 11

Gametophyte

Answer 11

haploid stage, dominant stage of nonvascular plants w cuticle

Question 12

Sporophyte

Answer 12

Diploid stage, dominant life style stage of vascular seedless plants and all higher land plants

Question 13

Seed function

Answer 13

protects embryo against water loss and herbivores, permits dormancy, promotes dispersal

Question 14

Cones

Answer 14

the scales partially protect the female megaspore (eggs)

Question 15

Needles

Answer 15

reduce photosynthetic surface but w pollen allows conifers to thrive in more arid habitats

Question 16

Annuals

Answer 16

die and the end of the year leaving only seeds for the next growing season

most angiosperms are annuals and herbaceous

Question 17

herbaceous

Answer 17

short lived and non woody (little to no lignin)

Question 18

Plantae Groups

Vascular Plants w fruit covered seeds

angiosperms

divided into monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants

Answer 18

1. Flower
2. Fruit
3. Phyla: Anthrophyta

*** flower/fruit evolved @ this lvl; largest # of species of all plants

fruit increases protection and dispersal of seeds

Question 19

Fruit

Answer 19

a mature, ripened ovary enclosing seed

Question 20

Flower function

Answer 20

facilitate pollination by attracting animal pollinators (many anthrophyta are also wind and water pollinated)

in vascular plants w/ fruit covered seeds

Question 21

Angiosperm

Answer 21

Flowering plant

most are annuals and herbaceous

Question 22

Monocots Characteristics

Answer 22

1. 1 leave and germination
2. scattered vascular bundles
3. parallel leaf veins
4. flower petals in multiples of 3

Question 23

Dicots

Answer 23

-2 leaves at germination
-a circular arrangement of vascular bundles
-branching leaf veins
-petals in multiples of 4 or 5