Plants, Plant Anatomy

Question 1

How many species of land plants are there?

Answer 1

Over 300,000 species

Question 2

What are the key characteristics of land plants?

Answer 2

• Photosynthetic organisms
• Multicellular
• Eukaryotic
• Autotrophs
• Cellulose walls
• Chlorophyll a, b

Question 3

What is another name for land plants?

Answer 3

Embryophytes

Question 4

What common ancestor do land plants share?

Answer 4

Charophyceae algae

Question 5

What structures protect the embryos of land plants?

Answer 5

Embryos are protected against desiccation

Question 6

What are apical meristems?

Answer 6

Regions of undifferentiated tissues where plants tend to grow

Question 7

What type of spores do land plants produce?

Answer 7

Spores that have thick walls to protect against desiccation

Question 8

What is a gametangia?

Answer 8

A gamete producing organ

Question 9

When did plants invade land?

Answer 9

500 Mya

Question 10

What were the conditions of the Earth for the first 4 billion years?

Answer 10

Land was devoid of anything green

Question 11

Who are the nearest relatives to land plants?

Answer 11

Charophytes, a group of green algae

Question 12

What is the function of the cuticle in land plants?

Answer 12

Covers aerial parts and prevents desiccation

Question 13

What allows for gas exchange in land plants?

Answer 13

Stomata

Question 14

What type of tissue is not found in Bryophytes?

Answer 14

Vascular tissue

Question 15

What biosynthetic pathways have evolved in land plants?

Answer 15

• Sporopollenin
• Cutin
• Lignins
• Flavonoids
• Plant hormones

Question 16

During which period did early land plants exist?

Answer 16

476-432 Mya

Question 17

What is significant about Rhynia fossils?

Answer 17

Provided first evidence of plant fossils in detail

Question 18

What geological features were associated with Rhynia fossils?

Answer 18

Silica-rich rocks formed by geyser and hot spring activity

Question 19

What major diversification occurred during 410-360 Mya?

Answer 19

Silurian-Devonian diversification

Question 20

What are the key features established by the end of the Devonian period?

Answer 20

• Specialized sexual organs
• Fluid transport mechanisms
• Leaves, roots
• Structural tissue
• Spore bearing organs
• Seeds and tree habit

Question 21

What evolution occurred regarding leaves around 350 Mya?

Answer 21

Megaphylls evolved

Question 22

What effect did the evolution of leaves have on the terrestrial landscape?

Answer 22

Created vegetation and impacted atmosphere

Question 23

What is the dominant group of seed plants today?

Answer 23

Angiosperms

Question 24

How many species of bryophytes exist?

Answer 24

25,000 species

Question 25

What type of plants are bryophytes?

Answer 25

Non-vascular plants

Question 26

What is the phylogenetic relationship among bryophytes?

Answer 26

Unknown history of the origin of the three groups

Question 27

What is the dominant life cycle stage in bryophytes?

Answer 27

Gametophyte dominates the life cycle

Question 28

What is the role of gametophytes in bryophytes?

Answer 28

Larger and longer lived than sporophytes

Question 29

What are some economic uses of bryophytes?

Answer 29

* Peat moss used to flavour whisky * Dressing wounds in WW1 * Cushioning material * Absorbents in oil spills * Energy source

Question 30

What is a unique characteristic of dung mosses?

Answer 30

Sticky spores transported by flies

Question 31

How many species of seedless vascular plants are there?

Answer 31

Approximately 13,000 species

Question 32

What is the life cycle dominated by in seedless vascular plants?

Answer 32

Sporophytes

Question 33

What are the two classifications of leaves?

Answer 33

* Microphylls * Megaphylls

Question 34

What characterizes lycophytes?

Answer 34

Possess microphylls

Question 35

What are the three types of lycophytes?

Answer 35

* Selaginellales * Isoetales * Lycopodiales

Question 36

What defines Monilophyta?

Answer 36

Includes ferns and allies

Question 37

What type of leaves do ferns have?

Answer 37

True leaves, megaphylls

Question 38

What is a characteristic of Leptosporangiate ferns?

Answer 38

Sporangia arises from a single epidermal cell

Question 39

What environmental factors influence plant diversity?

Answer 39

* Climate * Habitat heterogeneity * Soil characteristics * Disturbance regimes * Geographical features * Species interactions * Evolutionary history

Question 40

What is the significance of the rise of angiosperms?

Answer 40

Related to the decline in other plant groups