lec 1

Question 1

what is the general order of plant development

Answer 1

algae: photosynth single cell euk
bryophytes: nonvascular land plants
pteridophytes: seedless vascular plants
gymnosperms: pollen + ‘naked’ seeds
angiosperms: flowers + fruit

vascular system develops, then seeds develop

Question 2

what are some traits + ex of bryophytes

Answer 2

• no vascular tissue: very small
• no seeds: reproduce via spores, which are carried via wind or water

ex. mosses, liverworts, hornworts

Question 3

what are some traits + ex of pteridophytes

Answer 3

• vascular tissue: grow larger leaves
• no seeds: reproduce via spores, which are carried via wind or water

ex. ferns

Question 4

what are some traits + ex of gymnosperms

Answer 4

• seeds: produce cones that contain the seed (NOT flowers)
• no leaves - have needles instead
• live for very long time (trees duh)

ex. conifers, cyads, Ginkgo species, and gnetophytes

Question 5

what are some traits + ex of angiosperms

Answer 5

• seeds: flowers as reproductive organs (may not be visible - ex grass has flowers)
• most diverse plant group (80% of all known green plants we have today)

idk just think of a flower and boom

Question 6

what is weird about cycads?

Answer 6

dioecious species - individuals are entirely male or female, not with both parts (like people)

this is different than other gymnosperms since most gymnosperms prod both male and female cones

cycads still have that cone-like seed producing structures though

Question 7

what are some reasons plants are important

Answer 7

• oxygen, sugars produced via photosynthesis
• food
• construction + shelter + clothing

Question 8

how do plants ground the environment? how does increased urbanization affect this?

Answer 8

stabilize soil via root networks that prevent soil from eroding
- shelterbelts are rows of trees that protect farmland from erosion (windbreak trees)
- mangroves protect coastal wetlands through dense root systems, environments of which are particularly turbid
- plants in coastal sand dunes stabilize sandy soil, which is dry and would otherwise blow away in the wind

we see with incr urbanization for agriculture, soil becomes less stable and more prone to erosion

Question 9

how do plants rely on us?

Answer 9

we grow agriculturally significant plants that would otherwise be able to survive via pesticides, weeding, fertilizing, watering, etc

Question 10

where do plants fall under bact, archaea, or euk

Answer 10

euk

Question 11

gymnosperm cones shrivel up when wet, and open up when dry. what is the purpose of this?

Answer 11

cones spread via wind using ‘winged seeds’ which do not travel far when wet - the best environment for travel is dry weather

Question 12

gymnosperms are said to have naked seeds. what does this mean?

Answer 12

seed does not develop in an ovary (pistil)

instead, pollen is carried from ‘male’ cone to ‘female’ cone,’ where the seed develops externally on the surface

(would be like if a baby grew from a pimple i think)