The evolution of plants

Question 1

What are the series of important evolutionary steps that are needed to occur?

Answer 1

• the transition to land
• development of vascular systems
• evolution of the seed
• diversification of angiosperms

Question 2

What are the risks for plants for their transition to land?

Answer 2

• heat
• dessication
• UV radiation

Question 3

What are the rewards for plants for their transition to land?

Answer 3

• more CO2
• sunlight
• few competitors

Question 4

What are some evidence that shows that kingdom plantae evolved from green algae?

Answer 4

Similarities in chlorophyll, chloroplasts, cell walls

and DNA

Question 5

What does a plant must do in order to survive on land?

Answer 5

To survive on land a plant must:
 Avoid drying out.
 Be able to hold itself up.
 Possess differentiated tissues (air and soil).
 Solve the problem of reproducing out of water.

Question 6

What did the first plants lack?

Answer 6

• vascular tissue so they could not transport water, sugars and minerals and limited size of plant

Question 7

What did the seeds provide?

Answer 7

• protection and nourishment for developing embryo
• dispersal of embryo
• dormancy until seed is able to be dispersed