Lecture 8 - Angiosperms

Question 1

Earliest angiosperms: what, when, where, key features?

Answer 1

Archaefructus
~125 Mya
Aquatic
Elongated “flowers”; no petals; male parts below female parts

Montsechia
~130 Mya
Aquatic plant

Question 2

Angiosperms: what are they?

Answer 2

“Cased seeds”

Ovary formed by maternal tissue protects the seed.

Endosperms are used to supply the foetus with food

Question 3

Flowers in angiosperms: male parts

Answer 3

The stamen:
Anther
Filament

Question 4

Anther

Answer 4

Contains the pollen (male gametes) which are moved by either pollinators or the wind

Question 5

Filament

Answer 5

Holds up the anther to be reachable by the wind and/or pollinators

Question 6

Flowers in angiosperms: female parts

Answer 6

The pistil/carpel:
Stigma
Style
Ovary/ovule

Question 7

Stigma

Answer 7

Is flat and sticky to catch pollen

Question 8

Style

Answer 8

The tube connecting the ovary and stigma

Question 9

Ovary/ovule

Answer 9

Produces and stores the developing eggs

Contained within the ovary and will become the seed upon successful germination

Question 10

Non-reproductive key parts of the flowers

Answer 10

Sepal. petal, receptacle, and peduncle

Question 11

Sepal

Answer 11

Protects the flower and prevents it from drying out

Question 12

Petal

Answer 12

Attracts pollinators to the flower so that the pollen can be transferred to other flowers

Question 13

Receptacle

Answer 13

Connects the flower to the plant and supports the flower

Question 14

Peduncle

Answer 14

The stem of a flower

Question 15

Differences between gymnosperms and angiosperms: water transport

Answer 15

Gymnosperms - use tracheids (hollow cells that overlap on the ends)

Angiosperms - use xylems which are more efficient for water transport but may suffer from embolism (air bubbles)

Question 16

The benefit of fruits

Answer 16

Not exclusively angiosperm (e.g. yew, juniper) but most common in this group

Designed to be eaten as resistant seeds tolerate a gut environment, this spreads seeds and causes the species to spread out

Question 17

The benefit of fruits

Answer 17

Not exclusively angiosperm (e.g. yew, juniper) but most common in this group

Designed to be eaten as resistant seeds tolerate a gut environment, this spreads seeds and causes the species to spread out