Introduction

The origin of life is in fact filled with

mystery, even with the many studies done
throughout history. Scientists, however, can
come to an agreement that all living things on
earth are in one way or another related to each
other, as seen in the tree of life on the left. Upon
hearing the word evolution, most would
immediately assume that it is referring to the
process of changes in animals over generations,
forgetting that the word evolution refers to all
Image Credit: http://goo.gl/7kiMyw

living beings on Earth, including plants. It is

common knowledge in the scientific world that all living species originated from a singlecelled micro-organism. From Neil Shubins Your Inner Fish, we have also understood that all
land-animals most possibly came from the ocean-dwelling Tiktaalik. We also understand very
well the process of extinction of animals, as old species are unable to survive in the new
environment, and new species come into existence. However, there is one question, why is it
that we do not find any hints of animals from the ice age, yet we still find old ancient plants
from the beginning of the earth such as Algae and Moss?

Common Ancestry with Animals

Alicia Tan SC, October 2014

The history of earth would begin with the Big Bang.

However, information with regard to anything that happened
between the Big Bang and the beginning of life on Earth is
extremely vague as we do not have sufficient information as of yet.
What we do know, is that the first living organisms on Earth were the
Prokaryotes, which are single-celled organisms with no nuclei. The
Prokaryotes were in existence on earth between 3.9 and 3.5 billion
years ago. Prokaryotes are able to live in extreme environments, and
thus its existence in the world where there was yet to be enough
oxygen for the complex life we have today.

The most important fact is that there are Prokaryotes which are able to photosynthesize
with the help of the pigment also known as Chlorophyll. [Photosynthetic prokaryotes do have
membranous vesicles where photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll molecules) are located. These
structures are called thylakoids1]. Of course, with the brilliant laws of nature, for every matter
existing on one side of a weighing balance, there must be another on the opposite side to keep
the Earth stable. Hence the existence of matter thereafter which would consume this oxygen and
produce carbon dioxide in exchange, thus the beginning of the presence of Eukaryotic cells.
Eukaryotic cells can exist in masses which would make them visible to the naked eye, an
example would be the commonly known algae. As a matter of fact, the similarities between the
prokaryotic cells and eukaryotic cells are vast, and these prokaryotes mark the beginning of
plant life as much as it marks the beginning of ours, both which perform the same process of
respiration, the act of breathing.

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The First Plants

A fossil Bryophyte flora from the Early Cretaceous of Vancouver Island

Image Credit: http://users.humboldt.edu/tomescuam/

The direct descendants of eukaryotic cellular beings are Bryophytes which existed on the
earth about 359-385 million years ago. These are actually in fact a more descriptive and
scientifically accurate name for land plants without vascular tissues. These Bryophytes do not
contain Xylem, the water-transporting tissue available to all other land plants. Bryophytes are
unisexual, and they reproduce by spores. The process would be better explained in the diagram
below which shows the life cycle of a moss, the most well-known Bryophyte in the world
today.

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Life Cycle of a Moss

Alicia Tan SC, October 2014

The same reproduction cycle occurs for the plant variety that evolves shortly after, more
scientifically known as Seedless Vascular Plants (SVP). In contrast, the SVP has Xylem tubes,
which allows water to be more easily transported through the multi-cellular plant, which
evidently has a much larger body as compared to that of a single-cellular eukaryotic algae. The
other differences between the SVP and the bryophytes is the fact that these SVP have better
defined roots and leaves, and they can grow up to much larger sizes. The SVPs are still alive
today, and a more commonly known variety would be the ferns, some of which are so large that
they are aptly named tree ferns, because they are as tall as trees, even though they aren't
woody plants2. Most of these early plants live best in moist environment as the sperms require
water to swim to the egg, which is most definitely natures brilliant way of coping with the
water-filled earth.

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Gymnosperms & Angiosperms

Gymnosperms and Angiosperms

Alicia Tan SC, November 2014

These seedless plants then evolved to plants which makes use of seeds to reproduce, and
this is my hypothesized reasons to why plants seem to have decided that seeds are the most
ideal way of continuing their own kind. As mentioned earlier, water must be present for the
fragile sperms to travel to the relevant eggs. Pollen, on the other hand, simply require another
body the wind to assist them with transportation and hence are able to breed more effectively.
This is especially useful seeing that at the point in time, there was an increase in the size of land
masses and hence an increase in the number of places on Earth that simply have much drier
weather conditions. Also, since evolution was a concurrent process occurring to animals as well
and there was an increase in number of land animals roaming the planet due to the formation of
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new species, these plants have also developed to take advantage of the environment. Its colorful
appearance and sweet tasting fruits would allow animals to be attracted to them and assist them
with pollen delivery or seed dispersal.
There are two types of plants which reproduces by seeds, namely the Gymnosperms and
the Angiosperms. They began existing on different parts of the earth 200-250 million years ago.
Angiosperms are also known as flowering plants, and gymnosperms are evergreen plants with
no flower or fruits. The characteristics that differentiate angiosperms from gymnosperms
include flowers, fruits, and endosperm in the seeds3.
Extinction of Plants
As Charles Darwin states in his most distinguished book, the Origin of Species, Every
being, which during its natural lifetime produces several eggs or seeds, must suffer destruction
during some period of its life, and during some season or occasional year, otherwise, on the
principle of geometrical increase, its numbers would quickly become so inordinately great that
no country could support the product4. Unfortunately, as it seems, because we assume that
plants are living beings with no consciousness, without thoughts of its own, we pay less
attention to the wellbeing of these silent species. We simply do not wish to provide for those
who are unable to provide some sort of visible or immediate benefits for us, be it in terms of
materials, or in terms of feelings and love. Believe it or not, plants can go extinct as well.

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Fossilized Archaefructus
Image Credit: http://goo.gl/qY6rmn

Very much similar to extinct animals like the Megatherium, there are fossil records found
of plants that we do not find on the modern day earth, as seen from the fossilized Archaefructus
plant in the picture above. Plants can be forced to evacuate the Earth, be it from changes in the
situations of its predators and preys, or from the general condition of the environment it is
living in, very much the same process which enables natural selection to occur. It is this process
of evacuation that makes space for plants with properties better adapted to its environment to
survive and thrive, and over time, creates new species of plants.
Conclusion - The Evolution of Plants
As the fauna on earth develop into more and more complex animals, the plants on earth
are doing the same. Every matter on Earth follows a set of unchanging natural laws, thus it is
the same for all living beings. Plants, like animals, have gone through the process of natural
selection since beginning of its time. It is no surprise to me that these plants would have its own
way of either protecting itself or its own species. Very much like animals, these plants have
found a way through the test of time. As a matter of fact, with the brilliance of nature, plants
can also evolve alongside animals, which would hence provide a benefit to both species.

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Timeline of Plants
Alicia Tan SC, November 2014

I have summarized the evolutionary track travelled by plants in the image above, and as a
matter of fact, it is almost identical to the evolutionary track travelled by animals. It always
starts with a single-celled matter turning into multi-cellular beings. It begins with simplistic
matter to a more complex life form with different parts of their body performing different
functions to allow its survival. Of course, these changes are very gradual, and would not be
obvious enough for us to see the changes within our lifetimes. It is important to note, however,
that the existence of anything, does not depend simply on what is visible to mankind, very
much like how many put their faiths in the existence of a higher being without having met the
said him or them.

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References
1. Gregory, M. (n.d.). Prokaryotes. Retrieved October 10, 2014, from http://goo.gl/fMzmdn
2. Shmoop Editorial Team. (2008, November 11). Seedless Vascular Plants - Shmoop
Biology. Retrieved October 31, 2014, from http://goo.gl/Tio2du
3. Angiosperms

vs.

Gymnosperms.

(n.d.).

Retrieved

November

1,

2014,

from

http://goo.gl/JcfO6S
4. Darwin, C., & Darwin, C. (1872). Chapter 3 - Struggle for Existence. In The origin of
species by means of natural selection; The descent of man and selection in relation to
sex (6th ed., p. 63). London: JOHN MURRAY, ALBEMARLE STREET.

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