Plant Kingdom

Question 1

Importance of Plants

Answer 1

• can survive in many climates (desert to arctic)
• plants are producers of food therefore, wherever there are plants, rich diversity of terrestrial life will follow
• support food webs
• provide other organisms places to live
• human use for resources - food, medicine, clothing, wood, paper products etc.

Question 2

Classification and Phylogeny

Answer 2

• plants are thought to evolve from green algae (Protista)
• Plants and green algae both contain chlorophyll a and b
• Both plants and green algae cells:
  
  • Make cell plates at the end of mitosis
  • Have cellulose in their cell walls
  • Store excess food as starch.

Question 3

Key Characteristics

Answer 3

• multicellular and eukaryotic
• perform photosynthesis
• autotrophic
• sessile (cannot move from place to place)
• mostly terrestrial (the aquatic plants are mostly freshwater)
• reproduce sexually and asexually