Kingdom PlantaeCharacteristicschloroplasts with chlorophyll a & b, and carotenoids cellulose cell wallsformation of cell plate during cell divisionstarch used for carbohydrate storageLife cycle - sporic meiosis or haplodiplonic or alternationof generationsdiploid stage (sporophyte) and haploid stage (gametophyte) are multicellulardominant stage varies between groupsprimitive plants - gametophyte is dominantadvanced plants - sporophyte is dominantprimitive plants have poorly developed systems for conducting fluids - nonvascular plantsmore advanced plants (vascular plants) have well developed xylem and phloem for conductionTen phyla of plantsThree nonvascular (without water conducting vessels)P. Bryophyta - mossesP. Hepaticophyta - liverworts P. Anthocerophyta - hornwortsNine vascular Two seedless P. Pterophyta - ferns, whisk ferns, horsetails P. Lycophyta - club mossesFive seeded P. Coniferophyta - conifers P. Cycadophyta - cycads P. Gnetophyta - gnetophyta P. Ginkophyta - ginkgoP. Anthophyta - flowering plants - angiospermsthis group iscalled thegymnospermsCharacteristics of nonvascular plantslack vessels for conducting water and foodstuffs throughout plantGametophytes green, nutritionally independent of, and more conspicuous than sporophyteSporophyte attached to gametophyte, partially nutritionally dependentHomosporous - spores of equal sizeRequire external water for fertilization, only common in moist placesIn total about 24,700 speciesThree Phyla - Bryophyta (mosses), Hepaticophyta (liverworts),Antherocerophyta (hornworts)collectively called the“bryophytes”Terms:Sporophyte - a multicellular diploid organism that produces spores by meiosis - spores germinate and grow into gametophytesGametophyte - a multicellular haploid organism that produces gametes by mitosis can be either male or female, females produceeggs, males produce sperms, fusion of gametes produces a zygotethat grow into a multicellular sporophyteAntheridium - the sperm producing organ of a gametophyteArchegonium - the egg producing organ of a gametophyteHomosporous - spores (produced by meiosis) are indistinguishable in size and may give rise to either male or female gametophytesHeterosporous - spores differ in size megaspores produce megagametophytes, which produce eggsmicrospores produce microgametophytes, which produce spermsfusion of an egg and sperm produces a zygote that can grow into amulticellular sporophytePhylum Bryophyta - mossesGametophytes small, spiral or alternate arrangedleaves on central axisSporophytes grow as stalk from gametophyteAnchored to substrate by rootlike rhizoids Consists of several cells that absorb waterLeaves superficially resemble true leavesgreen, flattened blade, slightly thickened midribone cell thick, lack vascular strands and stomata Most water used by plant travels up on outside of plant, viacapillary actionSome have specialized food conducting cellsCan withstand long periods of dryingMost abundant plants in Arctic and Antarctic, rare in deserts Mosses are sensitive to pollutantsPoor competitors in environments favorable to growth of higherplantsOther “bryophytes”Phylum Hepaticophyta - Liverwortssimilar reproduction to mossesPhylum AnthocerotophytaHornwortsamong earliest land plantsSporophyte has stomata, isphotosynthetic, and providesmuch of plant’s energy.Vascular Plants - have vessels (tubes composed of elongated or cylindrical cells) for conducting water and food xylem - conducts water from roots to leavesphloem - conducts carbohydrates in solution from areas ofphotosynthesis (leaves) to support nonphotosynthetic areas roots, growing shoots, etc.have a waxy cuticle over leaves to prevent water loss have stomata (pores) in leaves for gas exchangeall have greater importance and increased size of sporophyte inlife cycle than seen in bryophytesVascular plants divided into seedless and seededseed - resistant structures suited to protect an embryo from drought.Seedless Vascular Plants - increased importance of sporophyte in life cyclelarge sporophyte nutritionally independent of small gametophytemost are homosporous, spores produce gametophytes that produce sperm in antheridia and eggs in archegonia swimming sperm, require water for fertilizationTwo PhylaPterophyta (ferns, whisk ferns, horsetails)11,000 spp.Lycophyta (club mosses)1150 spp.Phylum Pterophyta - the ferns, whiskferns, horsetailsFerns: both sporophyte and gametophyte are photosyntheticsporophyte is large with leaves (fronds)gametophyte (prothallus) is small, one cell thick, heart-shapedsporophyte has well developed roots, stems, and leavesstems are underground - called rhizomesleaves develop from rhizomes - “fiddleheads” - coiled leavesleaves can possess spore producing sporangiasporangia are commonly found in clusters (sori)a cap (indusium) commonly covers immature sorusFern reproduction:sporangia produce spores, germinate to produce prothalli,prothalli produces eggs in archegonia, sperms in antheridiasperm swim to eggs for fertilization,sporophyte grows from archegonium as gametophyte diesWhisk Fernsremnants of earliest vascular plants sporophyte consists of branching green stemslack roots or leavesGametophytes found in soil beneath sporophytes Colorless, filamentous form Have saprobic or parasitic associations with fungi to obtainnutrientsHorsetailsCommonly called scouring rushes, “cajun kudzu”A single genus, Equisetum worldwide, mostly in damp placesSporophytes are ribbed, jointed stemsArise from underground rhizomesWhorl of scalelike leaves at each stem nodeStems are hollow, contain silica deposits inepidermal cells Two groups - branched and unbranched branched form resembles a horse's tailSpores have two ribbonlike elaters (wings)aid in spore dispersal when drycurl around spore when dampGametophytes are smallNumerous flagellated sperm swim to archegoniaPhylum Lycophyta: Club MossesWorldwide, most common in tropics & moist temperate regionsResemble mosses, clearly different in internal structuresSporophytes have leafy stems Lycopodium is typicalSporangia produced in cone-like clusters on stems or in upper leaves Leaves (microphylls) are short,linear and in whorls or spirals Lycopodium gametophytes aretiny and carrot-shaped some club mosses are used as ornaments (e.g. resurrection plant) many are now endangered speciesSeed Plantsfirst appear in fossil record in rocks dating to about 425 millionyears old -Seeds: have protective seed coat, protects embryo from drying out, from